Nuts anyone?

So there I was, minding my own business, sifting through the mostly damaged Christmas Santas and angels at a discount store, when my 16-year-old daughter did the unthinkable - she pointed out the 6 ft plus copper Nutcracker and mentioned casually, that we should get it. Now most people would chuckle and move on, but then, most people don't have a Nutcracker collection, which, for reasons still unclear to this day, I do. I suppose if we dug really deep, we could determine it to be the manifestation of a childhood memory. I did after all, dance in the professional production of "The Nutcracker," with the famed ballerina, Valerie Panov, as a child. But if we are to be more practical, I suppose I'd have to admit it really was a fluke that started some 10 odd years ago, when my now dear friends, Paul and Gail, came over for what would be the first of every Christmas since. I've always been big into decorating for the holidays, so I didn't think anything of having a couple of Nutcrackers (that I'd picked up at Pic N Save) by the tree. My friend Gail, automatically assumed that I collected them. The next year, she showed up with the perfect gift in hand - a Nutcracker for my "collection" - and so my "collection" was born. Every year since, I have known exactly what I will be getting from Paul and Gail – a Nutcracker. While most years it seems predictable, this year, the dynamic duo that they are, my friends managed to surprise me. With everyone having opened a gift each, it was my turn next. I went for the big box, knowing what it was, only as soon as I tore off the first bit of wrapping paper and got a peak at the crown that was visible through the box, I knew that this year, my Nutcracker was, well, shall we say, over budget. The exchange that followed was something like this: ME: Oh my gosh, this is so nice. GAIL: Paul picked it out. PAUL: (Sheepish Laugh) ME: (Knowing Paul, I know exactly what that meant.) By himself, I ask? GAIL: Uh huh. PAUL: (Sheepish Laugh) ME: I can tell. He obviously overspent. PAUL: (Sheepish laugh.) GAIL: It’s okay. It’s very nice. PAUL: (Sheepish laugh.) That’s Paul and Gail for you. Paul finds joy in generosity and Gail, although the more the responsible one is too generous to not be generous. So despite the fact that I would have been perfectly happy with the more reasonably priced Nutcracker that Gail would have picked out, I scored because Paul just happened to be at the mall that day - alone. So now it’s a couple of days later and I’m at the after Christmas sales - like I said, minding my own business - and am suddenly faced with the ultimate decision of whether or not I really want to a) blow my gift card on a 6 ft copper colored Nutcracker and b) actually own a 6 ft Nutcracker. Seemed like a no-brainer to me … <