Another dirty laundry thread... this one is about my sister.

[Writer]

So I asked my brother-in-law what my sister might want for her birthday via email. A few days later, my sister sends me a link to a drastically discounted necklace at a woman's clothing chain with the following note:

"My husband asked what I want for bday. I said a flat screen in front of the treadmill. Then he said, no-you were asking. So ..."

followed by a picture, description, and price of the drastically reduced necklace.


Out of context, and not knowing her, how would one assess this note? Would you consider it normal? Rude? How would you respond?


((Flameproof suit ON))

[hippywife]

1. That she is trying to give you

a suggestion for something she likes that isn't going to be as exorbitantly priced as what she would ask her husband for.

[madeline_con]

2. Did you ask what she wanted?

The gist of the note seems to and that you asked, and that's what she wants. :shrug:


Of course, you're not obligated to buy it. Get her an inspirational calendar of daily prayers. ;)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. buy her the necklace and forget about it. Writer, life is too damn short.

You have got to let some of this stuff go.

[Writer]

5. I've already purchased the necklace...

but I'm curious about what people think about these small moments... and YES I'm reading something into it, but I'm not going to let it define me as much as let me define her.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. exactly. it says something about her. how you let if affect you speaks

about you. Remember, she is also the result of the same narcissim. Be kind to yourself.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Normal.

Including the husband's punt.

[Haole Girl]

6. I have three sisters

We just exchange cards now... sort of went that way once we all turned 40. I'm happy with that. Maybe you should suggest it for your sister, too.

:shrug:

[Gormy Cuss]

7. It sounds like a sister being candid to a sister.

Or at least that's what it would be in my family.

[busybl]

9. as a woman my take on it is

when a husband asks you what you want, you name something outrageous in case it might work, to other people you name
smaller things you'd like to have. Nothing sinister or insulting I can see.

[hunter]

10. Put the necklace in something unexpected...

... a Japanese Puzzle Box, a box of chocolates... something like that. She gets what she wanted and something else. Win-win.

[Writer]

11. I was thinking about doing something like that...

giving her a little something "extra" on her birthday, because the necklace may take a bit longer to get to her.

[GirlinContempt]

12. What could be rude about it?

When people ask me, and I know that they mean it, I often give them a few options at a few price points (none ever being that high). If there is something I really really want, sometimes I'll tell them. Last xmas I actually cut out stuff from flyers for my Mum so she'd know what she was looking for, as often if I leave it up to her it doesn't end well. She is a little nuts though, and thought I was asking for EVERYTHING I told her about. DUH when have I EVER expected more than one gift?!?! anyway, off topic there. I don't think it's rude, I think she probably really wants that one item, and since you asked she told you.

[EndersDame]

13. Maybe she was afraid her hubby would tell you to geet her the teevee

or she was maybe trying to enlist your support of lobbying her hubby to get her a flat screen