The Story of the Alabaster Eggs
My ex moved into my home and our first Valentine's Day arrived. My daughter and I had our ritual down pat. We would go to the card store, separate, pick out each other's cards, gifts and a box of candy. We would ask for our gifts to be gift wrapped and I would pay for everything, without "peeking" at my stuff. We would take our bag to our car, get in, rip open our gifts to each other, read the cards (to be signed and hung up later), and then eat our candy. Usually, about half the candy was eaten by the time we got home. It worked beautifully for us. My gift for several years was a different little statue. I still have them. Jessie's was a stuffed animal that said "I Love you" or had a heart on it. As she got older, the gifts changed until we always gave each other a Valentine's mug. I have all but one packed up for her to use with my grandchildren now.
When we set out on our V Day fun fest, we simply included the card, gift (I forget what) and box of candy for Joel. V Day was just not a problem. We didn't know yet how insecure Joel was in this relationship. He had no idea how to handle two of us and searched store after store for the perfect gift.
We were happily finishing our candy when he finally came home. His card, gift and candy were waiting for him on the table and we fully expected to help him eat his candy. He presented us with our gift; no card, no candy. "What was wrong with this person," we thought. Doesn't he watch TV? Everybody knows the rules!
What was his gift that took hours to find? An egg carton filled with different color alabaster eggs. Jessie and I broke into laughter when we saw it. It was pretty, but what could you do with it? Where was our candy? We knew right then and there that Joel was going to have to be brought up properly under our tutelage!
As I was just going through my house cleaning out what I don't need anymore, I came across the carton of alabaster eggs. I looked at it and laughed, and then I
gently put it into the garbage bag. That part of my life is over and I don't need that particular memento anymore, but I will keep the memory.