My zebra rug, aka "Zebie"

I have had a long term love affair with zebra rugs.  It started when I was about 12 and went to babysit for a cool young couple new to our little city.  I walked into their LR and it was there I saw my very first zebra rug.  I thought it was one of the most beautiful amazing things I had ever seen.  Now, as I flip through my files of favorite LRs, there is often a consistent display of a zebra rug, center stage.  I always say some things just always seem to stay the same.  Should I say, except husbands? :) 

So last year, when my super FAB new husband asked me what I would like as a wedding present.....I didn't skip a beat.  My immediate response was "a zebra".  He said something like "a real zebra"????  I believe he was actually thinking he might need to explain that our strict deed restrictions would prohibit a zebra living here.  He may have actually even been relieved that the deed restrictions were in place, which is when I told him that I meant a zebra rug.  I guess he probably wondered about a woman who would ask for a zebra rug over so many other gift possibilities, but he married me anyway.  I started researching zebra rugs, where to get the best of the bunch, how to get then legally into the country, etc.  The more I read, the more I was determined.  I learned it would a) be expensive b) take some time to get it to me and 3) came in a variety of sizes.  None of this discouraged me in my quest to have one be mine.

so - let's get to the good part of the story.  My sisters and I walk into a consignment shop we occasionally hit and my sister says to me "hey, there's your zebra rug".  Have you ever seen a lunatic running through a consignment shop to get to something?  Yes, that was me.  The Fab Mr S was out on the golf course when I whipped out my Iphone and sent him the pic and a msg "found him".  I'm thinking to myself, gee I really hope he's playing super well today :)  message back - "buy it".  So he came home with me that day and has been with me ever since.  And I love him .... almost as much as I love that man who bought him for me.