Kate, who?

The husband, he's a very practical and pragmatic guy. Although he has surprised me with flowers every now and then, he is not big on spontaneity in terms of presents for me or the kids. So when our wedding anniversary was a week away, he started getting nervous thinking about what to get me. I didn't help the matter because I had told him his present is all wrapped up and was hidden somewhere in the house.

Three days before our anniversary, and as we were winding down after a long day, he took a very deep breath and told me with such a serious look on his face that he didn't know what to get me. He told me he's spent many hours in between meetings, just circling around different malls trying to decide what I would like. And after the fourth mall, he's given up because he just didn't want to risk buying something that I might not like. How can you not love this man?

So, it was up to me to either tell him what I want (and then risk that he might not get it right) or choose my own present and charge it to his card (and risk that I might do some serious damage to his card).

Last Friday I went around a nearby mall and was looking at some charm bracelets and a couple of handbags. When lo and behold, I saw the handbag I like and it was on sale! That is such a win-win situation, don't you think?

I quickly called the husband who was in Jakarta and told him about the Kate Spade handbag and we had this weird conversation:

Me: I'd like a new handbag for my present. Could I charge it to your card?
Him: Yes, sure if it's something that you really like. *static*
Me: I love it. It's on sale and it's Kate Spade.
Him: *static* it's a *static* *static*
Me: I'm going to buy it now, okay? I'm at the mall.
Him: *static* *static* - line goes dead

Thanks to the lousy mobile connections to Jakarta, I had a signed blank cheque as far as I was concerned!

He came home the next day and asked to see what "he has bought" for me. I showed him the handbag and he said it was a darn good deal. We were mighty pleased with ourselves.

And then he asked me, "So who is this Kate you were talking about?"