Solid as a rock

I skimmed a story the other day that offered gift ideas for loved ones. The article listed all the normal presents: flowers; jewelry; chocolate, and experiences like massages or weekends away. When I saw the list, I was shocked that the author neglected to include a run-of-the-mill rock or stone.

I considered writing the editor, but I decided against it. I know I’m a little crazy, but I swear that I’m making sense.

Through thick and thin

Here’s why I thought the writer missed a perfect gift.

When my wife and I first dated, we faced our share of challenges. We started out close to 200 miles apart in two different states. We did the long-distance dating thing for two years. We had some job challenges and faced some scary health challenges too. We got through those challenges by sticking together. When we got together on the weekend, talked on the phone, or wrote each other via the U.S. Mail, we would regularly joke that we were like a rock.

We meant it as a sign of our toughness and determination in the face of adverse situations. So, one Christmas I had the perfect gift for her. I gave her a dark greenish rock.

A symbol of love

The rock was small and fit in the middle of your palm. It meant so much more though. It meant that the world might be crazy and unpredictable. And we would have our ups and downs, but together we could survive anything.

My wife carried “her rock” in her purse for a long time. A few Christmas’ later she got me my very own rock. My wife has them both stored away in a jewelry box. I doubt they would fetch much from a jeweler. They would probably generate a laugh. For us, though, they have a ton of meaning.

Yes, as strong as a rock!