How much does my acquiescence cost?

I’ve been trying to figure out a birthday present for Ava. It’s a curse I bear – trying to find perfect presents for people. I’ve yet to be able to pull one off for Ava. I tried to get the actor who plays Boris on Royal Pains to give her an autographed picture but he – or his representatives – blew me off. This time I was on a quest for an action figure of Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead. We’ve seen them. We even have a friend who possesses one. If you want one these days you can pick one up on Amazon for $279.99. Seriously.

So, then I started hunting for a Jax Teller of Sons of Anarchy action figure. Those don’t exist – not for any amount of money.

Crap crap crappity crap.

Instead I gave her something priceless.

I made her a gift certificate that entitled her to win one of our arguments. No matter what the subject matter, if she redeemed her coupon I would immediately stop arguing and she could win. For example, I would shut up and go get a stupid flu shot or immediately stop arguing and vote Republican or whatever repugnant thing she came up with.

I don’t have to worry about that Republican thing for another four years and, at this point, she seems to be actually hoping I get the flu so she can lord it over me that she got a flu shot and I refused.

Still, I wait with some fear in my heart. Perhaps I should avoid arguing with her for a while. At least until she loses the Golden Ticket.