Friday, December 19, 2008

A2A Teen Years: I'm Dreaming of a Fishy Christmas

Tip of the Day: Since Christmas is next week and we’re guessing most people are busy with all kinds of wonderful things, the old author2author blog will be a bit quiet. But we’ll return the following week to reveal our new names and talk about our goals for 2009!

Oh geez. These A2A teen year posts are hard for me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a teen. And I don’t mind telling you about my wonderful teen years. But the older I get, the more trouble I have remembering anything ABOUT those wonderful teen years. In case you don’t know, it sucks getting old! Wait, now you think I’m really old. And I’m not. I just have an old memory card in my brain. Or something.

Anyway, even though I wasn't quite a teenager anymore, I’m going to tell you about the first Christmas I celebrated with a boyfriend in college, the guy who eventually became my husband.

We had been dating about four months when our first Christmas rolled around. It was a big deal. I bought him all kinds of wonderful things, including a new comforter for his bed, a beautiful sweater that I thought would look really great on him, and some other cool things.


He handed me my first gift to open, and I have to say, it was rather odd-looking. Long and skinny. I had absolutely no idea as to what it might be. I opened it up and what a surprise - he’d bought me a new fishing pole! At some point, we must have talked about how I fished a lot with my dad and my grandparents when I was growing up. I seem to recall him asking, “So you like to fish?” And I probably shrugged my shoulders and said, “Sure.” And now I had my very own pole to go fishing any time I wanted!

The next gift I opened was small. This one, I thought to myself, must be something nice. A diamond necklace, perhaps, or a bracelet. But it was another surprise! This time, my very own pocket knife! I was so lucky!! He showed me how it had scissors and a cork screw and just about any gadget a girl could possibly need, all in one handy little place.

There were a couple of other little things I don’t remember, but that was definitely a Christmas I’ll never forget.

Since that Christmas, I’ve learned his family is very much a list-making family. When it’s Christmas, you make a list, and that is how gifts are chosen. So every year since that first Christmas, I make a list and share it with him and his mom. And what do you know, there hasn’t been a single fishing pole since. I mean, you know, since I already have one and all, I really don't need TWO, do I?

I want to thank Kate, Emily, Deena and Tina for suggesting reasons to buy my book, FAR FROM YOU, for yourself or a teen you know as a Christmas gift. That was very sweet of them. I hope everyone buys at least one book for a Christmas gift this year. Doesn't have to be my book. Just buy a book. Or two. Or twenty. After all, no fishing line required!

~Lisa, Miss Pinch Me I'm Pubbed

6 comments:

Kate Fall said...

I leave nothing to chance for my husband picking out gifts. Why risk it? But our first Christmas together in college he bought me a book so I had to marry him.

Lisa, could you give us an age recommendation on Far From You? I have someone in mind.

Lisa Schroeder said...

Kate - a book for Christmas! Yes, he's a keeper!!

Okay, sex is one thing on the characters' minds. The MC is struggling with the decision - should I or shouldn't I? So, for that reason, I think it needs to be an 8th grader or older. When I wrote it, I didn't know how many 12 year olds would be reading and loving I HEART YOU, so I'm a little worried now, although really, I think in the end, what she learns is all good.

Hope that makes sense.

Emily Marshall said...

Ha...your husband sounds very practical!

Kate Fall said...

Thanks, Lisa, that definitely helps!

DeenaML said...

So have you and hubby used that fishing pole yet? :)

Steph said...

Haha those are some great unusual gifts! Very nice.

You should know Lisa that I've been making rounds at bookstores around the Houston area and have seen FAR FROM YOU in all of them! Very cute hardcover, it is.

Oh and and and I just wanted to make a note here that Emily Marshall won something in my blog and to go check that out for details.

Steph