Day 10 Was this a set up?

Early on this trip Donna informed me she didn’t bring any earrings.

“She forgot?” Hmmm.

All women with pierced ears know the rule — if you don’t keep something in there, those holes can close up. So after lunch aboard the Rinda we wandered back into Novi Sad, following Donna’s memory of an H&M. Maybe they’d have something inexpensive. But gentlemen… as you know, zinc won’t do. The earrings need to be pure stainless steel or better. H&M didn’t have anything close.

So the search continued.

Tucked quietly into the corner of a side street was a small jewelry shop — “Bata” You had to be buzzed in. Inside, a sweet older woman and her daughter ran the place. It felt like we had stepped into a secret hideaway where only the locals with long-standing trust were welcomed.

Donna told them what she was looking for.
A small case appeared from behind the counter, which was behind the other counter. Layers of security. But our eyes landed on the same pair at the same time: a stunning blue set of earrings with a tricky little latch.

With a bit of help, Donna got them in.
And wow… they looked amazing.

Then came the magic question: “How much are they?” Followed by the American traveler’s follow-up question: “And how much is that in U.S. dollars?”

The shopkeeper did not quote a number.
She placed the earrings on a scale.

My stomach tightened.

No price tag. No label. Just a weight.
This can’t be good!

Donna gave me that gracious look — the one that says, “These might be more than we planned to spend,” but also the one that says, “I love them.”

She tried on a couple of other pairs that were less money, but they didn’t have the radiance my wife deserves. So we thanked the ladies, stepped out of the little jewelry nook, and kept browsing.

We did find another store… but nothing compared to those blue earrings at Bata.

Leaving the second shop a bit deflated, I turned to Donna. “Did you really like the blue ones?” She did.

Honestly… so did I.

“Let’s go back and get them.”

They looked beautiful on her. And now she has a memory from Novi Sad — a story from our Eastern Europe River Cruise she can smile about every time she puts them on, as well as, be reminded just how wonderful a husband I am (or at least can be on good days.)

For me, it was one of those moments I didn’t want to regret. You know how it goes:
“Oh, I wish I’d bought you those blue earrings in Novi Sad.”

And guys, let’s be honest:

Happy wife, happy life.

Gentlemen, again I ask … was this a setup?

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