How do you choose the best give you ever gave?
Is it about how big the gift was? Is it about how big of a surprise it was? Is it about how expensive the gift was? Is it about how special it was? To you? To the person you gave it to?
I’ll admit that it’s tough for me. As I mentioned yesterday, my favorite gifts are the ones I don’t ask for. They are the ones that people pick out just for me because they think I will like it. Because they picked it for me.
As a result, I’ve held onto plaques, ugly sweaters, and other unused gifts because I felt like it was wrong to get rid of them. I felt like I just might hurt someone’s feelings who picked it out especially for me.
I’ve also learned that I create a lot of fantasies in my head and clutter in my house.
But the best gift I ever gave, I don’t even remember giving.
My parents were divorced many years ago and my mom kept all of the family photos. My dad was never the sentimental type anyway. Or so I thought.
A few weeks ago, his wife decided to email me a ton of old photos he had lying around the house. She was trying to organize a bit of their history and was hoping I could put some dates on some photos. I scanned them and was quickly reminded of my awkward adolescent years and the questionable fashion of the 1970s.
And then I came across a photo of a handwritten note. A note that was very clearly my handwriting.
I honestly don’t remember giving this to him. I don’t remember why I gave it to him. I don’t remember if I gave it to anyone else. But it’s the best gift I ever gave. Want to know why? Because he still has it.
What an awesome story. Best gift I ever received are the coupon books my kids make for me. They tell me so much about how they perceive things in our lives…what they think is important and what they think I think is important. And they give great shoulder rubs.
I made the same thing for my mom. I don’t think she ever cashed them in. She was too sentimental to actually use them!
Oh my goodness! I almost got choked up reading your note to your dad! As far as the best gift I have ever given…that’s a tough question, isn’t it? I think it may have been a frame with a collage of pictures and a quote that I made for my mom the Mother’s Day after my grandma died. I collected all of the pictures of me, my mom, and my grandma I could find. She still has that in a place of prominence.
Oh, wow. That is the sweetest thing ever. Those things we make and put our heart and soul into mean so much!
I love that your Dad kept your gift. I’m all teary eyed now.
I love it too. And frankly, I’m very, very surprised.
I can’t think of the best gift. Although my memory has many holes, and I will likely remember this little nugget sometime down the road in January when the answer will just pop out of nowhere. I might come back and tell you then. You have a sweet dad. Funny how they can surprise as adults. Merry Christmas. The Sundance Film festival? Now that would be a gift and a half for this theatre major.
Merry Christmas,
Dana
I always love hearing about cool gifts. Yes, the surprise about my dad definitely comes as an adult. And tell you what, let’s both go the the Sundance film festival!
No gift story or sentimental comments here. I just felt compelled to mention that I used to work at the Yarrow Hotel in Park City.