I love surprises, and John is a master at creating them. He’s arranged everything from flying my best friend in for my birthday to pretending to leave for work and then returning five minutes later to announce a spontaneous beach trip. So every now and then I like to return the favor with a surprise of my own. When I found an attractive leather armchair on Target.com, I had to order it for him right away. Buying furniture unseen can be risky, but the five-star rating and numerous positive reviews made it an easy decision.
When the chair arrived two days later it exceeded my expectations. It’s large and incredibly comfortable, the leather is soft and supple, and the rich brown color complements our room perfectly. It arrived almost fully assembled, which was a welcome bonus. Placed in the corner of our bedroom, it helps give the space more of a master-bedroom feel. The photo hardly does it justice.
What I wish you could have seen was John’s reaction when he walked in. He let out excited exclamations and then pulled off what can only be described as a Tony Soprano impression. He strode over, sank into the chair, and pretended to smoke an imaginary cigar. The only thing missing was his club jacket. It was absolutely priceless.
When I told him I’d snagged the chair for just $230 after promotions—down from about $500 including shipping—he lifted his imaginary cigar in salute.
(Half of a post by Sherry)
John here. I managed to step away from my new chair long enough to write the other half of this post. One of the best parts about Sherry’s surprise was that I already had a small surprise waiting for her.
My gesture was simpler but followed a tradition I started when we first moved into the house. How can you go wrong with flowers?
I ordered a small bouquet from ProFlowers.com and it arrived at our door today. I told Sherry not to read too much into it being called a “baby bouquet,” but I did try to pick a size that would fit on the kitchen counter—unfortunately it was a bit taller than expected, so it now sits nicely in the living room instead.
Sherry says the arrangement will look even better once the lilies and irises open, and the timing is perfect for the guests we’re hosting this weekend. The best part for me was the sweet note that arrived with the flowers—personal and private, but definitely appreciated.
(Other half of a post by John)