Thou Shalt Not Covet

I intended to write a post by this title about four months ago. That is when I managed to drop Jeffrey's blackberry in between the seat and the center consul in his car, and then, while trying to move the seat to access the phone, crunch it between the motorized components. It literally went, "crunch," and it looked just like you would imagine a phone that has been, well, smashed between two hard, metal devices.

Jeffrey tried really hard to look disappointed, even saddened over the loss of his blackberry. But, since he had spent the previous two years pining and lusting and coveting and committing all manner of sin (figuratively speaking, of course) related to his insatiable desire for an iPhone, he didn't pull off disappointment so well.

With some finagling of our various phone plans, we managed to replace the crushed blackberry (sounds like a type of sorbet) with a Droid X. (His early "Christmas" present -- since I had been planning to get him an iPhone this year already.) And, for the first time in my life, I found myself coveting something electronic.

I really am not a high-tech girl. I don't care how big the TV is, because I don't watch it that much. I don't need the newest devices or fanciest phones, so long as they can make a phone call. Generally, in our marriage, I get whatever is free, while we pay large sums for Jeffrey's electronics.

But, the Droid was really cool. It could do all sorts of things, and I recalled with some fondness the days when I worked for Congress and had my own, first generation, blackberry to use to send and receive email on the go. I really did like it. And this was like that, but WAY, WAY, WAY cooler.

And, I really kinda wanted one. Though I would only have ever gotten one if it was free with my standard Verizon upgrade.

Then, Christmas came this year, and Jeffrey sneakily bought me an iPad. I had told him I wanted one (which I did), but somewhat jokingly, since I knew it was well outside of our Christmas budget. But, he secured the funds, bought it, and then told me as I was opening that under no circumstances was I to even consider returning it. I had to swallow hard to not tell him it was too expensive; I exercised self-discipline to graciously accept the gift and not feel guilty about having it. And, then, I fell in love.

Seriously. It is awesome.

I have read books, watched movies, listened to music, sent emails, edited documents, tracked my spending, kept my grocery list, found directions, read the news, checked the weather, studied my scriptures, kept my calendar, and I don't know what else on it.

The problem is, now it is Jeffrey that is covetous. For the first time ever. Of me.

I feel a little bad for him. The Droid just doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore.

But, I remind myself that he has his ukulele [ click here for more details] to play whenever I decide to hang out with my new BFF instead of him.

I wonder how long the ukulele will suffice...