Five Year Anniversary (Work)

My five year anniversary was actually last June, but my company cobbles together the "milestone" anniversaries with the annual superstar and dream team awards. One guy ducked out on his 25 year recognition thing, even though he was in the office (he hates these things). Each of us got a corporate gift catalogue from Michael C. Fina (a New York institution for, among other things, bridal registries) with several pages worth of items from which we could choose. Watches, jewelry, lead crystal, bone china, etc. I had no use for most of it, and those items for which I really had a use, I already own. Presumably the people with 10, 15, 20, and 25 year anniversaries were able to choose from more expensive items.

I had pretty much narrowed down the options to two items: a Weber kettle grill, and a wall clock. When I got home, I asked SJ to help me choose. He immediately nixed all the same items I had. Truth be told, we have an old table-top Weber grill, and I can get a new one at Home Depot or any hardware store when ours hits the dust or we need a much larger one. For that matter, I can buy a new clock from a wonderful clock shop in Chester (the owner does repairs as well). I had to pick something. We settled on the wall clock. I'll place my order tomorrow.

Our reasoning for choosing the clock was pretty simple. Sooner or later that grill would end up in a dump, and I'd probably forget how I got it within a few years. Nothing about it says "anniversary gift." The wall clock will be around a lot longer than 15-20 years, and I will remember how and why I acquired it. The clock in the picture is not exactly the clock I'll be getting, but it is extremely similar. The face on mine doesn't have any of that ornate gold colored frou-frou, and the pendulum doesn't have the harp shaped detail. I've seen much prettier clocks, but I've also seen far, far uglier ones.

I might have preferred a carriage clock, or a schoolhouse clock, but neither was an option. There was a mantle clock, but we have Steve's grandmother's antique mantle clock, and don't need another. My parents have several very pretty antique wall clocks which need periodic winding with a key, which I may one day own, but for now, the only wall clock I have is an L.L. Bean "weather center" that I gave my grandfather for Christmas many years ago, and got back after his death. It's functional, but pretty boring looking.

The one I've selected as a company gift is more what I think of as a "wall clock." I grew up in a house full of antiques, and have quite a few of them myself. Most of my "modern" furniture looks antique anyway, so the clock will go nicely with the decor.

All in all, I'm pleased that I was able to find something acceptable among the choices!