The Mythic Phoenix

This week, my husband fulfilled a dream I've had for 25 years.  He bought me an Hermes silk scarf.

As I re-read, I realize how the cynic could read those two sentences I just put together: dramatic, haughty, hokey, naive, sappy... pick your negative desciptor if you must.  Haters be hatin', right?

But the simple truth is that his choice of that scarf shows how much he understands and values the things that are important to me.  I studied French in high school and college, lived her for a few summers and have actively sought to continue practicing French and visiting the country as an adult.  The iconic brand Hermes has been a touchstone to me from adolescence.  I used to subscribe to Connoisseur magazine (now defunct, go figure) just for the ads.  I'd cut out the glossy beauties and tape them on my dorm walls next to the photographs of gemstones and Duran Duran posters.

Hey, back off, it was the 80's.  You know you did it too.

When we first decided to try living in France, I told Bryan that as soon as he got his first paycheck or job offer, I wanted an Hermes scarf.  I was teasing, but he took me seriously.  He decided that it was something he wanted to do, once he was gainfully employed again.

Oops--spoiler alert, Bryan got a job.  He flew to Dallas today, probably landing about 20 minutes ago.  I'll do a blog on it soon, I suspect.  Now, back to the scarf....

We took the girls to the flagship Hermes store on the rue Faubourg St. Honore.  I picked out a few scarves, based on color, and asked Bryan choose the final one.  We were debating between two when the saleswoman hade me to try them on.

Well, that made the choice clear.  The first one looked awful folded up--the colors were all wrong against my skin and all the charm of the design was lost in the folds.  Then, when I tried on the second scarf, I believe I heard the Alleluia Chorus, faintly, in the background.

The color scheme is a pale yellow, slightly darker teal and vibrant purple.  It features a phoenix--the mythical bird that rises from the ashes of its own flames to new life.  We didn't know the name of the bird at the time we bought it, but it seems so beautifully symbolic.  So many parts of our life are renewing, reinventing and rebuilding now.

You could say it was a splurge to treat me after so many stressful months.
You could say it was a symbol of my love of France.
You could say it was an irresponsible, spendthrift purchase.

But you'd be wrong.

The scarf is a symbol of the love and understanding of my husband.  He knows how much the idea of this scarf has meant to me for so many years.  He knows that wearing it isn't about the label, but the story, the history of it all.  He knows that when I wear it, I will be thinking how lucky I am to have found someone observant enough to listen to my stories and thoughtful enough to make my dreams, however small, come true.  He knows it is for me and a part of me.  That's why I love my Hermes scarf--not for the scarf, but for the man who bought it.