Scandinavian Snowball Ring

I found this in the Web Archive  of my old blog, “Clever Title Goes Here,” and thought you might like to read it. Originally written in 8/2003.
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What is the first semi-major purchase you made with your own money, why did you decide to purchase that item, and how did you raise the money to buy it?

Even now, but especially as a child, I was a sucker for those “AS SEEN ON TV” products. I didn’t realize that people in infomercials were allowed to stretch the truth, and sometimes even LIED. So, anyway, I was watching this infomercial for the SCANDINAVIAN SNOWBALL RING- a huge pearl ring that, for some reason, captivated me. I thought it was so beautiful that I watched the infomercial over and over again. I started saving up my money. It was only four payments of nineteen ninety nine plus tax, shipping, and handling. It didn’t matter. I didn’t mind. With a SCANDINAVIAN SNOWBALL RING, I would be glamorous. Beautiful people wore SCANDINAVIAN SNOWBALL RINGS.

Eventually, my parents noticed that I was working so hard to buy this ring and getting frustrated because four payments of nineteen ninety nine was a lot of money for a six year old. They decided to order it for me and have it under the tree at Christmas.

On Christmas morning, my mother presented me with a small brown cardboard box. It had been mailed from somewhere in California. Could it be? Could I possibly be getting the SCANDINAVIAN SNOWBALL RING that my heart so desired?

I opened the box. There, nestled in cloth, was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen in my entire six years of life. It was even more shiny, more brilliant than it had been on television. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t even know what to say. I could only stare at the box and wonder how Santa knew I had been trying so hard.

Forty five minutes later, sounds that could only be identified as six year old broken heart were coming from my bedroom. The SCANDINAVIAN SNOWBALL had rolled off of its perch sealed with cheap glue, never to be found again.