Sunday, November 22, 2009
Christmas presents
Someone asked me what I'd like for Christmas, and the answer is necessarily "I don't know." Why? Because if there was something that was reasonably priced that I particularly wanted, I'd have already gotten it myself. Therefore the choices are something I feel is too expensive, or something I don't want. Included in the "don't want" group is "things that I don't want only because I don't know about them"--but of course, I can't very well tell anyone what those things are!
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4 comments:
Part of this is the imprecise nature of english as a language.
"Things you don't want" (because you don't know about them) should be distinct from "Things you don't want" (that you know about but actively do not want).
Fortunately, I believe you are one of the easier people to buy a gift for. You read. That immediately suggests several ways to procure a gift you will enjoy. People who read are rarely hard to shop for in the modern age.
You also game and I know your period interests and genre interests so that also suggests some options.
Plus, I'm pretty sure you understand good works and good causes. I'm sure a donation in your name to one of them would not go amiss. I can think of at least one that is near and dear to your heart.
Or am I missing something?
Christmas to me has never been hard in terms of knowing what to get people, its been wanting to get them a bunch of stuff they'd enjoy (of various forms) and knowing reality would limit what I can give.
For my part, this year I've established an amazon.ca wish list. I'm planning to inform any who ask of this and then they can look at it. It simplifies their task. On the other hand, I'm usually quite happy with nothing, for some of the same reasons you mention (if it was cheap enough, in many cases I'd have bought it). There are exceptions - some things I haven't yet got to buying (for instance) or things I'd like but couldn't afford (because I bought other things, not because they were expensive).
Mostly, I'm just absurdly happy to spend time with my friends. The highest quality is visits in person, the second highest is at least spending time with them on Skype and the third in the class is at least email contact. This form of gift is a great value because it reminds me of the wonderful gifts life has given me (my friends and family) and for which I shall be thankful in the holiday season and year round.
We'll see if my visit to the Great White North causes you to reverse your order of preference.
I can list some things that I'd rather not get:
Nothing plaid. I could make an exception for a full kilt but that quickly gets into "too expensive".
No books unless the giver is certain enough of my tastes that he'll ignore this anyway. I'm often given obscure books "because I'm a reader"; however, obscure books are generally best left obscure. I don't need a biography of an industrial baron who was, a hundred and twenty years ago, a household word to everyone within thirty miles of Slow Ahead, Alberta. Although I'd take that in preference to another--shudder--Dan Brown.
No food or other consumables because part of the point of a gift is to be able to look at it later and say "ah, yes, So-and-so gave me this". I don't want the "this" to be my waistline.
Given your aversion to the cold, I'd think nice thick, cotton work shirts (typically in a plaid) would be viewed favourably! :)
I won't buy you Dan Brown. Nor will I buy you Industrial Baron of Obscurity. If you have any particular books you have your eye on, Amazon is a good way for me to deliver you a book. Of course, I may find one in my non-big-chain bookstore and have it for you in a week or two.
Some part of my funny side wants me to give you a book on the War of 1812 (and how 'we' (British 'we' unless you count some native Canadians) put the boots to US ambitions in the North). The truth is, it was an interesting conflict. :0)
One different take on consumables and perishables: If one is giving a romantic gift to a woman, I have heard one theory that states most such gifts should be ephemeral, so as to make them special for their brevity and also so as to make the male a necessary component of the equation as the one who produces these. If they stayed around, eventually, the male becomes dispensible.
When it gets to 70F, it's time for a sweater, not a plaid shirt.
Oddly, while I'm interested in the Napoleonic Wars, I've never been much interested in the War of 1812.
As for ephemeral gifts, "diamonds are forever."
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