The lunch today, where I still didn't have a gift? I rummaged up a gift...from home. My first thought was THE ADORABLE infant-sized pewter heart box, you could fit four of them in the palm of your hand, they'd be perfect for one pair of pearl earrings. This I bought last summer in a Black Mountain gift shop. My sister spotted it and exclaimed, Get that for Cheryl's Valentine's party! My neighbor throws these Valentine parties second to none. But last year was the first year she didn't have it because she works full-time and it was just a little too much. Boy, like we can't all relate to that! She invites her same friends each time, with a new lady or two, because Cheryl has a knack for friends. It's just a ball.

So, I bought the heart box that has beautiful designs stamped and woven all over. This is for that gift exchange where the gifts keep changing hands, like you can swipe someone's gift they chose, if you feel good and ornery and selfish. But watch out, someone can make you miserable, too. I bought it in good faith that Cheryl will spring for the party again. And she is, she said recently she was going to have it and I should invite my sister to come down...which took me about 10 seconds to do that.

Therefore, if I gave the heart box to my friend at lunch, which is so tiny it would take up no space in her house, which is a consideration for someone who never met clutter, I am back to Square One for a Valentine party gift. Which is not where I want to be, especially since I love this heart box so much I am already planning on swiping it back. Really, this gift exchange is like a contest, which gift will be THE gift this year? If no one ooh's and aah's over your gift, you sink into the sofa cushion and act dumb and hope your face isn't too red. There are no names on the gifts. I have been mysterious several times. Once they even discussed who brought a gift and pegged it on a lady who had already gone home. But it was my gift. I never said a word.

One year I took home the cute nightie I brought, marched right home with it. My announcement to the crowd was, It is my anniversary today, I must have this. It was pale pink with little black fuzzy hearts all over it. Just barely fuzzy, like velveteen. You know what I mean. Teensy hearts. I still have it but I never wear it because a strap came loose and I lack the industry to fix it. Seriously, I need my NC girlfriends, CDW and CAE would take pity on me and do all my mending, they are both seamstresses extraordinaire. CDW made DT-sD a little darling white hand-smocked gown as a baby gift, that she hand-smocked herself, for crying out loud! CAE made DT-sD and her little friend matching dresses to wear to church, they were pale blue with pink roses and the trim was pink and white stripes. Oh, boy, she made them matching hats, too. CAE also made doll clothes for DT-sD's baby doll, too cute for words. Wow, I'm so blessed with my friends. Don't you just feel the same way about your friends?

Okay, so somehow, I have no recollection how, but I noticed in my kitchen cupboard where I keep my nicer things that I had this vase I'd never used, with stickers still on it. It's handblown and very sleek and pretty. I had bought three of these to have on hand as gifts, well, I think I was planning on keeping one myself because I liked it so much. It's very slim and a darkish bluish green, just right for a single rose or a couple of daisies. I found it last night by accident.

This, I figured, would be perfect for my friend because her house is sleek and modern. She seemed quite pleased when she opened it and said she never buys herself things like that. I interpreted that in the complimentary way and not the other way you could take it, heh, heh. I felt good because I parted with this vase reluctantly, I liked it so much I wanted to keep it. That's the test for me. I feel good giving gifts that I covet.

So...all worked out well and the lunch lasted a measly FIVE HOURS. I kid you not, we sat and gabbed for 5 straight hours. Mike couldn't even believe it, this was some sort of record. Good grief, it was getting dark when we finally left. But I was rapt at her every word. Her birthday was not today, it was earlier January, but, okay, got it for next year. It's on the calendar already.

Speaking of gifts and friends, a lovely friend gave me a copy of the Mayberry Cookbook for Christmas. I've coveted that cookbook many a time, whenever I see it in country stores or gift shops. But some things you show restraint...just because. I'm so happy. Aunt Bee will guide me into happy dinner land.

Another friend commented on my blog that it's nice someone in the world besides herself has the same thoughts. I like that. That's what this whole blog is all about. It's about the elimination of freaky feelings of isolation. You and I are not alone, the next person has the same thought as we do. I find extreme comfort in that, the companionship and commonness of humanity.

Well, tomorrow is a new day. I want to be like Audrey Hepburn's character in Paris When It Sizzles. When asked about her philosophy of life (or whatever it was), she said, When I wake up each morning and realize there is a whole other day ahead of me, I just go absolutely ape! Now THAT, my friends, is a fine attitude.

Going Ape,
KEM PS It's a good thing we went to Germany, which forced me to buy some new clothes. 'Cause now I have something I can throw on and wear to a 5 hour lunch. Black velveteen pants, so warm and cozy, and purple ribbed turtle neck top, it hugs you so toastily, from Eddie Bauer. YUMMY! I must be on a spree, I normally don't shop this much. The spree had better flee.