May 15, 2026
The Pruning Shears Story
A couple days ago, the wife and I were browsing around a very fancy boutique.
It was her 50th birthday week, and I was on a mission to spoil her.
We came across a pair of pruning shears that appeared to be constructed of very high-quality materials.
I knew she had been looking for a new pair of shears, so my eyes popped open.
She, too, was attracted to the fancy-looking shears.
She picked them up.
She looked at the tag.
Me: “How much are they?”
Her: “$39”
We moved on.
Here’s the thing...
I thought the shears would be at least a hundred bucks.
Heck, I HOPED they were a hundred bucks.
And when I found out they were kinda cheap?
I didn’t want them.
Why?
Because whoever priced them didn’t understand my problem.
My problem was NOT:
“How do I cut ivy off our house more easily?”
My problem was:
“How do I spoil my wife on her fiftieth birthday?”
With regard to my actual problem, $39 shears just didn’t cut it.
Yours,
—J