I have a December birthday. Everyone who has a December birthday knows what that means . . . combo birthday/Christmas presents.
Normally, this is NOT something to be preferred. My niece’s birthday is one week before Christmas and she fully expects to celebrate BOTH holidays without anyone trying to roll them into one.
But as I’ve gotten older, there are times when a combo gift isn’t so bad. Like, for example, THIS year. Sometime over the fall I walked into our home office and looked at the two ladder-style shelving units in a nook there. I spread my arms and said, “I wish this whole wall were a bookshelf.”
Because I have books EVERYWHERE. Books on shelves, books on tables, books on my bedside stand and desk and in the closet and piled on the floor . . . No books in the laundry room, but I think that’s it. So a wall of shelves is something to be desired.
And my husband was listening.
And so, last week, the oak bookcase he commissioned arrived and was installed. I then spent a blissful evening gathering up my wayward books and giving them a new home. It’s PERFECT.
And yes, I’ll keep rearranging the books. And adding new ones and even letting a few go now and again. But what makes that bookcase one of the best presents ever, is the way it shows how well my husband listens to me. And how he knows what will delight my heart and soul.
Happy birthday. Merry Christmas.
How very cool. I too have a wall of bookcases and most of the books in it, with the exception of all the new ones I purchase, have been with me over many moves. They are my comfort. So happy your husband not only listened but he heard you, a rare gift in itself. I also love the way you have your father’s flag and photo so prominently displayed. We have 3 of those flags. One for my Mother, one for my Father and one for my Father-in-law and they are displayed in places of honor above the books.
Thanks for noticing the flag! That’s for my father-in-law whose photo is above the flag.
Sarah – my daughter (12/16), my granddaughter (12/23), my great granddaughter (12/8) – too young to understand yet – know what you mean!
Peggy
Oh wow–December is a birthday month at your house!
Your husband ‘did good’! I love your bookcase and I wish you a Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas!
Didn’t he, though?!? Thank you!
I have a wall like this in my family room & it is full! I think I may need to pass on some to make room for new ones! I bought them from a furniture company 3 or 4 years ago.
You can never have too many books. Or bookcases!
This makes me so happy! All of it! Especially the bookshelves—but you know, when we moved into this house, we decided the “theme” of the house would be books, and we made sure there are books in every room, as an element of the design. 🙂 Totally get it about the December birthday: my mom was born the 9th in 1926, so she was a child of the Depression and rarely even got more than “You’ll get yours at Christmas.” I heard that story a lot, so when my son was born on the 10th, I made sure we never even decorated until after his birthday. I’m glad I did, not least because I think we ll appreciated the decorating more. 🙂
I love that! I wait until the 12th or so to put up the tree. In part, because I like to leave it up through Epiphany!