Seems to me that the more I tried to impress my huge gaggle of uncles , aunts , cousins and second-cousins , the less impressed they are . It ’ s like they could smell my longing for their approval .
My best advice is never shop for gifts when you ’ re struggling though deadline presser and remember multi-tasking is over-rated .
Perhaps they were smelling the knock-off perfume I had bought from the girls who came to my office , swearing to me that they had overstock of the hottest fragrances . They had my favorite , Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Gift Set , but instead of the $ 98.00 price tag they had at the department store , it was priced perfectly at just $ 18 .
The girls had all of my relative ’ s favorites as well . I bought 20 sets — all different fragrances . I bought Passion by Elizabeth Taylor and Chanel # 9 for my aunts ( ladies of a certain age ), and My Burberry Black and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet for the cousins .
I didn ’ t open mine until the big day with the family . It smelled like heaven — at first . Then , once I was with the family and started getting nervous ( I have a hint of social anxiety ) and the temperature began to rise in the dining room , I noticed that the fragrance began to change a bit . It wasn ’ t bad , just different .
As dinner progressed , it smelled more , er , ah , different .
By the time we were about to exchange gifts , my bargain perfume , Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium , smelled remarkably like deer musk and I notice that no one was sitting close to me any longer .
I grabbed my handbag and headed toward the guest bath . I opened my massive handbag and began rooting around , in search of the small travel size bottle of my Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium . It was at the very bottom of the bag . I looked at label . Yep , Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium , only “ Yves ,” was spelled “ Eves .”
I had to retrieve my gifts before the women in my family opened them .
I hurried to the great room in time to watch my aunt open her gift .
Joy was apparent on her face as she saw the gift set of her favorite fragrance , Pasion by Elizabeth Tyler .
I found a spot in the corner upwind from the rest of the family , grabbed a glass of something festive and reminded myself of something my favorite aunt always told me — holidays are about family and love and gifts are about the thought that goes into them . I only hope she remembers that sentiment when she finds herself at a lovely social gathering only to realize that she smells like deer musk .
“ There is no sincerer love than the love of food .” — George Bernard Shaw
HUDSON OAKS 100 S . Oakridge Drive , # 140 Hudson Oaks , TX 76087 ( 817 ) 550-1665
M – F 8a-10p | S 8a-8p | Su 10a-6p
$
36 VALUE
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DECEMBER 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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