My China Registry
It seems that I am supposed to be getting one of these, apparently. You remember the recent cat-fight over my mom's china, yes?
Savvymom called me the other night, all excited.
SM: Mom says we can all go register for china and she'll start buying it for us for Christmas and birthdays and stuff!
Me: Huh?
SM: Yeah! And so I'm at the Dillard's homepage looking at Wedgwood and I'm trying to decide which one I want.
Me: Mom wants us to go register? Even if we're not getting married?
SM: Yes! And if you get 5-piece sets for all of the major holidays then you'll have your whole set in just a couple of years! So which ones do you like?
It was all a bit much to take in. There's also still a slight question of whose idea this actually was--Mom's or Savvymom's. I got the impression from Savvymom's that it was Mom's, but now I'm not so sure.
There's also the part where registering for a china pattern seems like a very grown-up and established (read: snobbish and socialitish) thing to be doing. I mean, yes, I like china. And I will want some in my future life. But I don't know if I want all my Christmas and birthday gifts for the next 10 years to be plates.
However, it is a tantalizing idea to be able to pick out stuff like this without having to consult another person (say, a husband or fiance). I mean, sure, I bet most guys would be happy not to have to stand around looking at 6 million identical plates and being asked for their opinions. But there's always the risk of becoming attached to a Man with Opinions. Then it would be nice to just cut that off at the pass. "Oh, gosh, that's already taken care of and I have 5 place settings already. It was my mom. She made me do it. Can't back out now!"
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have patterns to peruse.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
13 comments:
I had this idea awhile ago that all single women should be able to register for their 30th birthdays. It should be perfectly socially acceptable and friends and family should be expected to shop off the registry only. I want to walk around Target with the UPC gun, darn it! And just think of the cute stuff we could get without a guy and his personal tastes messing everything up.
Oh! Yes! I wondered if I should bring that up or if people would think I was psycho!
Because really, how the heck long are you supposed to wait before you start getting the nice stuff? And I love the idea of just going through Target without having to pretend to care about the other person's opinion.
We should start a movement, I think.
Also--you could get what you want and not be at the mercy of guests who might give you only a butter dish and pepper shaker out of your china set. (I'm not bitter. No, really. I didn't get any of the china I registered for for my wedding. None. Not a single item. NADA.)
Anyway, I think your thirtieth-birthday-registry is a good idea.
Woohoo! Cool China for Nemesis *and* Savvy! Now everybody's happy, and posh, and like unto people from Jane Austen novels.
My guess is that your future husband will be overjoyed not to have to go pick china patterns with you, too.
Win-win! :)
I think you should register at Target, and then send around a photo of yourself to everyone you know. Just you, not even a fake fiance or anything, and you should put the "Nemesis is registered at Target" card in there, along with your mailing address, and something about how no one needs to get dressed up to come to a reception or anything--just send gifts. That would combine all elements of coolness and taste to make you the hippest gal in town. I'm not even kidding.
Okay, daltongirl, Savvymom and I read that one at the same time and almost had accidents. Today you are the Queen of Funny.
Actually, I like the idea, too. I always have loved the idea of showers for singles. I mean, it's just not fair! Not only do these young women find love and fulfillment and get to have sex, but they also get really cool kitchen stuff! We, the desperately single, have to scape by with our Durabrand appliances (never trust a brandname like "Durabrand"). Hmph. Can you please send out those registration announcements? My brother and I considered sending a picture of us, him carrying me over the threshold of our new home, with cards indicating where we were registered...
Cicada, if you sent me an invitation like that, I would frame it. And I would buy you something, possibly by KitchenAid, if I had any money to spare.
well...just buy the china in England, that is where all the fancy china is made and then you don't need to say anything about getting married--the china set would just be a deeply discounted reminder of your time in England. I once knew I guy who bought some china when he was studying abroad in Scotland...maybe that should have been a sign.
Sakhmet, are you actually a fork-flinging superhero? b/c that would fit--what with your mom storing your hope chest stuff and all. I bet when you go home they ask you if you're "in the marijuana," don't they? They're on to you, my friend.
(I posted my first comment and then was without internet for a couple of days)
Nemesis, I think we should totally start this underground registry movement. I only have a little more than a year until my 30th, so no time to waste!
Fine by me, Kelly. What should the ground rules be? Anyone?
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