As we dash from place to place, I suggest that we all take a deep breath and concentrate on finding gifts that would be appreciated by those who receive them.
Through the years I have been given many presents that were clearly part of a re-gifting program. Truthfully, instead of being given a random offering from someone’s crappy gift closet, I’d rather receive a promise of a “let’s all pay for our own” get-together for lunch, dinner, happy hour or brunch. We all have to eat anyhow, and I would love to spend some time with the people I care about. These days, it seems that time, for some, is even more precious than money.
When it comes to what I believe to be an inappropriate/surely to be unwanted present, consider the following:
Please don’t give Great-Grandma a used mustache cup that you found at a yard sale— even if it does have flowers on it. Your 8-year-old nephew will most likely be pretty darned disappointed if given a book on ornithology— even if it once belonged to his great uncle. Your mom doesn’t want or need another bottle of drugstore bath beads, hand cream or cologne. Chances are she already has several bottles of each in her own crappy gift closet just waiting to be re-gifted. Be warned, she may re-wrap some of it and give it to you.
And speaking of re-gifting, if you just have to, please make sure that you don’t give it back to the person who gave it to you in the first place.
Years ago our family had a Christmas gift-opening extravaganza where one of our relatives (I’ll call her Sally) re-gifted things to some of our younger family members right in front of those who had so carefully shopped and given the same items to Sally the year before. In some cases, the gifts were re-gifted to the children of Sally’s original gift givers. Thank goodness our family thrives on humor, and we all chuckled to ourselves. She was none the wiser.
Yes, Sally is very hard to buy for. It has become a bit of a game to see who can give her a gift that she will actually keep for herself.
I understand that time is running short for holiday gift shopping, so I suggest that we all keep it simple. For those of us who are still on the shopping express wagon, keep your running around to a minimum. We can save time, save gas and reduce the stress by spending our dollars at local retailers in our own neighborhoods. Bixby Knolls, Signal Hill, Wrigley and California Heights stores are just jam-packed with creative and thoughtful gift items. Shopping locally not only enhances our local economy, it also helps to guarantee that these hard-working shop owners will be able to stay in business, retain employees and be there next year to once again provide a local shopping experience. Remember that restaurant gift cards make lovely presents as well.
As I wrote last year, my mom says she doesn’t want us to give her anything that smells good, stationery, shawls, slippers or lap blankets.
Instead, we will concentrate on finding her some tasty gluten-free treats that she can sink her teeth into throughout the season. Knowing what a voracious reader she is, we will also look for some interesting large-print books for her to enjoy while cuddled up in her favorite heated, remote-controlled reclining chair.
For those of you who are wondering what to give to an older loved one, consider the gift of service.
Whether you perform the service yourself or purchase a gift card/certificate for a massage, hair-salon visit, pedicure, pet grooming or housekeeping, you are sure to bring a smile to the recipient. If none of those suggestions strikes your fancy, how about gifts for your loved one’s car?
Maybe an oil change, new windshield wipers and/or a run through your neighborhood car wash.
Whatever you decide, do what I do— buy gifts that you would love to receive. Who knows? You might receive it back next year as part of the receiver’s re-gifting program.
