The Bible tells us it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35), and I have a treat for you below that exemplifies this in memorable fashion. But first I thought I’d tell you of one of the better gifts I was able to give.
My wife and I don’t do presents much. One year, though, back when I was still an associate at my law firm, I received a Christmas bonus. It wasn’t much as law firm bonuses go, because the economy hadn’t been doing well that year, but still it was enough to go shopping for something I thought my wife might like. I took another associate along with me for advice, Christine, because she knew my wife and she had good taste. So we went coat shopping.
Not just any coat, mind you. I wanted a wool overcoat for my wife. Black wool, heavy enough to handle the cold north winds that can blow through here in the winter. Christine was a trooper, going from store to store with me. We found a really nice one that blew the whole bonus, but it was perfect. I took it home and hid it away.
Christmas morning, I brought the package out. My wife was not expecting anything, so this was a surprise right off the bat. She opened it, and the surprise increased. Then she tried it on. It fit like … well, like an overcoat should. And it still does. I am glad I spent the whole thing on that coat, because it looks as good now as it did the day I brought it home 20 years ago. She wears it all winter long still.
So I have a question. What is one of the most successful gifts you’ve ever given, and why? (OK, that’s two questions I suppose.)
And as promised, for your reading pleasure (and I do mean pleasure, since this is hilarious), and in celebration of that grand British tradition Boxing Day, I direct you to read Brian Sibley’s “And Yet Another Partridge In A Pear Tree”. First performed by Penelope Keith on BBC, this has now become one of my personal holiday traditions.
It’s a hoot!
It is so incredible when you do get that gift right. What a feeling!!! My son Pete is the easiest person to buy for in the entire world I think. He loves movies — he loves to get those little movie novelization books. He gets obsessed with characters from movies and if you get something to deal with one of these characters he is thrilled. One year I got him a Willy Wonka figure. It was 18 inches tall (that doesn’t sound tall but it was) and it looked just like the Willy Wonka Johnny Depp played. It was not actually a toy. It was a collector’s piece that was valued at about $100 but I got it for $20 off of Ebay since it didn’t have a box and such. My goodness — when Pete opened up that box he almost went into shock. He just looked at that doll and was in awe for several minutes. The next 18 months that Willy Wonka went everywhere with him (in the house at least). The doll is now missing its hands and feet (it was meant to sit on a shelf) but he is still very much loved.
Merry Christmas to you, Tim, and to your family.
That Wonka figure sounds like it fit Pete perfectly, Jane. It must have blessed you every time you saw him carrying it with him around the house.
Tim, I read your “1 %” article at Mrs. Darcy’s, and had to visit you- following you now. Blessings to you and your family!
Melinda/Auntie Em
I am so glad you came over, Melinda, and am gratified you think this train wreck is worth following. I’ll be popping over to your place today too!
My most successful gift wasn’t for Christmas, but a birthday. My mother-in-law mentioned a watercolour painting she’d seen and liked at the seniors’ centre where she took fitness classes: it was of an old barn in winter. But she hadn’t bought it, wasn’t sure, etc. A month or so passed and she still hadn’t bought it and her series of classes was over. I contacted a friend who was familiar with the seniors’ centre and asked her to help me find the painting. We walked the corridor, looking at 50-100 paintings, hoping it was still there … and finally we found what we thought must be the right one. (It wasn’t returnable so we knew we were taking a chance .) I bought it, and on my m-i-l’s birthday we presented it to her. She was so thrilled! (She had just mentioned the painting to someone a day or two before and they’d said, “You’d better buy it before someone else does!”) I think to her it wasn’t just the picture, which she loved, but also the fact that someone took note of her mentioning it and remembered the details. And even my friend loved being included in the mission of finding the picture; she had the enjoyment of trying to give pleasure to someone she’s never even met. The best gifts keep on giving, I guess!
That sounds like the perfect gift-giving, Jeannie. It’s funny but my wife did something similar for me once, when I saw a small painting at the local Farmers’ Market and couldn’t stop talking about it. It turned out that it was painted by a woman my wife knew, and she called her later to make arrangements to pick it up in time for Fathers’ Day. That was a very thoughtful and much appreciated surprise. It still hangs in my office at the courthouse.
I worked at least 32 hours a week through college. At Christmastime, I drove myself to the local martial arts dojo and bought my dad a piece of Japanese pottery. I was just so proud of myself! Well, of course, on the ride home with all my stuff for the break, it shattered to pieces. Heart broken, I plopped the bag in the front doorway as soon as I got him: “Here’s your present!” On Christmas morning I woke up to find it all put back together again…and my dad’s fingers a bit cut up. Again, he had given to me!
But on another note, my favorite gift to give is books
That pottery sounds like it spanned both your lives Aimee, with your common connection through martial arts. It’s a shame it broke on the drive home, but it turned into an amazing gift for a father to give a daughter.
And on that book note, I feel like you are always giving us books with your book reviews and reading reflections on your blog. Thanks for those treats.
Tim
My husband surprised me with a wool coat for christmas this year! It made me smile to think of the twenty year (and counting) legacy such a gift can bring…
Yet another thing our families have in common, Bronwyn!
Now that certainly IS money well spent, and the fact that your wife is willing to wear it over and over again until it wears out. 20 years in the same coat is excellent!!! Love it. Not many people do that. . .they just replace things over and over again even if they are still in top-shape.
I don’t have an answer for your question. I can’t think of any gifts that were as well worth it as yours (other than things sent to World Vision and such).
One great thing about that coat is that it is nowhere near worn out. It still looks like it just came from the store after all these years.
Your World Vision gifts are certainly worth mentioning, too, Victoria. I love how you support the organization on your blog. We’ve been giving gifts of World Vision donations to some members of our family for years now as well, and they really appreciate it.