The Infamously Bad Gift Choice

Fifty years ago, Sue and I were both seniors in college. While she was only a quarter of the way into her student teaching semester in a small Ohio high school, she already had responsibility for all of the cooperating teacher’s mathematics classes: seven sections across Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Trigonometry/Advanced Math. For those of you who are not teacher educators, giving a student teacher such a massive load, especially early in the semester, is tantamount to malpractice. The cooperating teacher essentially walked out of his classroom and to the teacher’s room for the semester and the college’s supervisor did nothing to insure she had a mentor.

That notwithstanding, Valentine’s Day was coming and I wanted to give Sue a special gift; one she would never forget. Well, the gift I selected more than fulfilled that goal, such that 50 years later Sue still talks about the gift she received from me on our first Valentine’s Day in 1969. So, what was this special gift; the one that was so memorable, the one she has talked about every Valentine’s Day since, the gift I have been "razzed" about every year since? A brief case. That’s right, I gave Sue a briefcase to carry all of the papers she took home from student teaching each day to grade.

Thankfully, Sue did not tell me about the inappropriateness of a briefcase as a Valentine’s Day gift until after we were married. I used the briefcase for a number of years. At some point the briefcase found its way into the attic for use as a storage box. Lesson learned. Every Valentine’s Day since then has included roses given and receive in true sincerity.

On this the 50th anniversary of that first Valentine’s Day, we both had a good laugh when the briefcase was included along with a long-stem red rose, card and a gift she appreciated - a certificate for a massage. While we were still laughing, I suggested putting the briefcase in our trash dumpster never to be seen again (except in the photo below). Sue agreed.

I anticipate that will not end the story telling and razzing about the briefcase around future Valentine’s Days and desirably so. I am very lucky that unromantic gift did not end our relationship, but that is not Sue. I am a much better person today, 50 years later, because of her.