When my two-year dating anniversary with Steven rolled around (back in September 2004), I wanted to get him something really special, but I didn’t have a lot of money. So I thought long and hard, “what has Steven been hinting at that he wants?”

I finally figured it out - a memory foam pillow! I knew he had mentioned wanting one. And those are expensive, right? Well, $30 seemed expensive at the time to a living-off-of-loans-and-handouts college student. And I thought it was a nice gift idea…

So I asked Steven’s so-kind brother, who lived in the same town as me, to take me to Sam’s Club to get the pillow. So, there I am, in an aisle with pillows, saying to Steven’s brother, “I really hope Steven likes this pillow! I wonder if he got me anything…”

Yes, you are meant to be laughing at me by this point.

Steven drove in from Chicago that weekend to take me to dinner for our anniversary. Oh yeah, and he did get me something - a three stone princess cut diamond engagement ring.

Of course I was ecstatic. But I kept thinking later on how dumb it was that I bought that pillow, thinking it was an exciting gift. And I felt really dumb for telling Steven’s brother how excited I was about giving it to Steven - because his brother knew all along that he planned to propose to me that night. I am surprised he could keep a straight face!

So, even from early on, I’ve started out defeated when it comes to gift exchanging between the two of us. I’ve mentioned it before - Steven always knows what I am getting him - he probably knew I was going to give him a stupid pillow (which was too stiff by the way). And, my gift always pales in comparison to his.

But, how can he guess if he receives an unexpected gift? That’s right, I bought something for him that has no associated holiday or birthday. And while I can’t keep my mouth shut about the fact that I bought him something, I know there is no way he will guess what it is.

Unless someone tells him.

So keep your mouth shut too.