Surprising gifts of 2008
Jan. 10th, 2009 10:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wwcitizenPeople complain all the time that I'm the most difficult person to shop for. I concede that I am. It's not by choice and it's not (contrary to popular perception) because I have extreme tastes; it's because I want for nothing. There is nothing that I desire, need, or expect. 2008 was a year of unexpectedly and surprisingly well thought-out gifts from folks.
Not sure if it's widely known, but my 40th birthday was last year. Many, many other friends of mine, including Matt's brother-in-law, turned 40. It was a revolving door of party after party after party for friends turning 40. The last thing on my mind was a party, so I didn't have one. That pissed off Matt to the nth degree because he really wanted to throw me a lavish party. A 40th birthday party for me - especially this year - would have been too cliche in light of all the others.
I wanted a 40th celebration just for Matthew and me, and we had that. It was really nice. He got me very thoughtful and surprising gifts. A couple of friends of mine got me a really cool, loud paisley shirt and some flamboyant socks that I love wearing. Matthew also took me out to dinner and to see Young Frankenstein, which was all wonderfully understated, calm, and fun.
At Christmas Matt and I exchanged gifts because it was the season. We capped our spending heavily because we buy each other stuff throughout the year, so Christmas becomes an enforced gift-giving scenario for us. Blech. He and I might just forgo the Christmas gift-giving with each other next year for that same reason.
My sisters, last year, in particular thought about their gifts - scrap-booking supplies, bathroom readers, and a juicer. Everyone in my family heard for months that there was nothing I needed, we have no space for anything, and nothing in particular inspired me enough to want.
BUT, I have to say my sisters surprised me the most this year at my birthday. They got me a balloon ride coupon, which is good until Nov. 2009. When I got it in the mail, I was so excited!! Like a kid in a candy shop. I've always wanted to go on a balloon ride or ride in a glider.
Matt has already told me that he wouldn't go with me. I've asked a couple of other friends and only one has "bellied up to the bar". My ticket's covered, and I can only imagine the cost at about $100 for another person to go on the balloon ride with me. I was looking in the brochure and there are balloon rides (along with gliders and para-sailing adventures) usable with the coupon all over the place. I've thought about looking into a balloon ride in the spring or summer when we're on vacation somewhere. I was picturing us in the Rockies, Florida, the Smokey Mountains, or even somewhere in NJ (there are tons of ballooners in NJ and PA). I'm still excited. Just found the coupon in its envelope and stuck it up on my wall to remind me and keep me focused on that excitement.
Not sure if it's widely known, but my 40th birthday was last year. Many, many other friends of mine, including Matt's brother-in-law, turned 40. It was a revolving door of party after party after party for friends turning 40. The last thing on my mind was a party, so I didn't have one. That pissed off Matt to the nth degree because he really wanted to throw me a lavish party. A 40th birthday party for me - especially this year - would have been too cliche in light of all the others.
I wanted a 40th celebration just for Matthew and me, and we had that. It was really nice. He got me very thoughtful and surprising gifts. A couple of friends of mine got me a really cool, loud paisley shirt and some flamboyant socks that I love wearing. Matthew also took me out to dinner and to see Young Frankenstein, which was all wonderfully understated, calm, and fun.
At Christmas Matt and I exchanged gifts because it was the season. We capped our spending heavily because we buy each other stuff throughout the year, so Christmas becomes an enforced gift-giving scenario for us. Blech. He and I might just forgo the Christmas gift-giving with each other next year for that same reason.
My sisters, last year, in particular thought about their gifts - scrap-booking supplies, bathroom readers, and a juicer. Everyone in my family heard for months that there was nothing I needed, we have no space for anything, and nothing in particular inspired me enough to want.
BUT, I have to say my sisters surprised me the most this year at my birthday. They got me a balloon ride coupon, which is good until Nov. 2009. When I got it in the mail, I was so excited!! Like a kid in a candy shop. I've always wanted to go on a balloon ride or ride in a glider.
Matt has already told me that he wouldn't go with me. I've asked a couple of other friends and only one has "bellied up to the bar". My ticket's covered, and I can only imagine the cost at about $100 for another person to go on the balloon ride with me. I was looking in the brochure and there are balloon rides (along with gliders and para-sailing adventures) usable with the coupon all over the place. I've thought about looking into a balloon ride in the spring or summer when we're on vacation somewhere. I was picturing us in the Rockies, Florida, the Smokey Mountains, or even somewhere in NJ (there are tons of ballooners in NJ and PA). I'm still excited. Just found the coupon in its envelope and stuck it up on my wall to remind me and keep me focused on that excitement.
