If you can't find a gift, give of your time (12/04/06)

I keep reading articles about what the best Christmas presents are. People recommend things that I wouldn't have in my house if you paid me to. There is always a suggestion that wine is an appropriate gift for everyone. The only wine I have is cooking wine and that lasts several years. I know it is supposed to be good for you but it tastes nasty and smells worse. I'd rather drink milk.

Gift buying can be a pleasure if you know the person well enough to know what that person likes and dislikes. Hint: if they have dozens of live plants then anything that grows is a good idea. Conversely if they have dozens of dead plants then you might want to give them something else this year.

Some people think it takes the surprise out of things if you have to give someone a list. Not me. I love it when I am handed a catalog with things circled and starred. Give me brand names, sizes, colors and code numbers and I will do my best to accommodate you. In my world, Santa needs specific instructions. If you can give me a map of the store with the location circled or a website to go to it would be even better.

I admit to getting at least one bad present a year for those I love. I don't mean to do this. At the time the item seems to be the perfect thing for that person. I am about halfway through my shopping and I have bought one bad present that I know about. It is a shirt with a map of Indiana on it. It will go to Texas so that whenever somebody asks where I live they can figure it out. Of course, they aren't real sure where Indiana itself is but they will be able to find Portland. I'm not sure which of the Texas people will get this shirt but it was something I couldn't resist.

My brother has asked for a picture for his wall. A simple landscape will do. Last weekend when Mom and I went shopping we looked at every picture in the store. If I liked it she didn't. I found one that I thought was perfect only to be told that my brother would hate it. So I still have picture shopping to do.

I am considering sidestepping the whole picture thing. I have a nice photograph of where we grew up. I might just have that enlarged and framed and be done with it. My other brother suggested that I include several prints of my stepfather. That is another one that is easier said than done. I have dozens of photo albums and countless envelopes of pictures that I have taken throughout the years. Do you think I can find the ones I'm looking for? Of course not!

Christmas isn't about presents anyway. I have survived many Christmases and only remember a few presents. A stuffed monkey, a jewelry box, amaryllis, hyacinth glasses . . . that's about it. All the rest are hidden in the dark recesses of my mind; not that there is much left of my mind these days.

Then there are people who ask for things that either haven't been made in the last 20 years or else are so new that they aren't on the market yet. I have several relatives like that. One is convinced that if something has been made once upon a time then somewhere is another one just waiting for me to buy it and give it to her. Others are equally convinced that if the object exists on a television show then I can find one just for them. I have news for these people. I'm not that good!

I do try to tailor the gift to the person and not get someone a generic candle or doo-dad just for the sake of handing them a present. I suggest that other people do the same. If all else fails then give someone the most priceless gifts of all. Time spent with you is far more precious than almost anything else. A letter telling them how much they mean to you and why will be cherished long after Christmas has come and gone. In other words, a gift of yourself is priceless and will be remembered years after the holiday is over.[[In-content Ad]]