Gifts

I did some Father's Day shopping today. It was almost an all day process. I had absolutely no idea what to give my step-dad. How sad is that? He's been my step-dad since I was a senior in high school and I know nothing about him. True, I used to go to my mother's each summer, but he was always busy. He was either out of town for business or riding/feeding his horses. We'd always invite him to come along but he always said Mom and I should have time alone. He only came along when there was food involved. haha

That got me thinking about the whole gift-giving process in general. Both my giving and receiving of gifts.

When it comes to giving gifts, Michael usually leaves that up to me. Mainly because, being the shopper that he is, he never knows when to quit. But also because he's pretty clueless about how to gift. He'd rather go into a store or open a catalog and buy a whole bunch of things and then figure out who gets what. I know who I'm shopping for before I even start and don't buy anything unless I'm positive they'll like it. I have a pretty good track record, too, if I do say so myself. (That is, of course, until it comes to my step-dad.)

Receiving gifts is usually a lot more fun. hehe What was the most memorable gift you received? When I thought about my gifts, I couldn't decide what my best gift has been.

I could say it was the watch I received from my dad the day I graduated from high school. He put it on the arm of a teddy bear. I was so tickled by the bear I almost didn't notice the watch at all. But then the sparkle caught my eye. I looked and was tickled to see a Mickey Mouse watch. On closer inspection, though, I realized that it was a gold nugget watch. A gold nugget Mickey Mouse watch! What a unique gift. I still have it and have never seen another.

That's a gift that's hard to top. But there are a few others that come to mind. A pair of shoes, for example. I complained that my shoes were becoming too worn and Michael snuck off to town and bought me a new pair of shoes. He insisted I try them on immediately. I watched him pull the tissue paper out of each shoe as he handed the pair off to me. I tried to put my foot in and my mind became flooded with visions of Cinderella's step-sisters. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get my foot in the shoe. I tried the other side and it fit fine. I checked the sizes to make sure they were the same. No problem there. He watched me struggle and finally said, "Maybe I didn't get all the paper, reach inside." I put my hand in the shoe and flung the shoe at him. "Oh, my god! Oh, my god, Michael, what did you do?" He just smiled and gave the shoe back to me. He encouraged me to reach in again and show him what was in the shoe. I pulled out a jewelry box and handed it to him. He opened it up with a huge grin to show me a ring. No, it wasn't my engagement ring, but it was the first piece of jewelry he gave me and the one I treasure the most.

I've been given other gifts, too. Intangible gifts. Like the love and acceptance of my family and friends even when I don't feel I deserve it. Like the look of pride on a childs face when they finally understand what I'm trying to teach them. Like the smile from someone I pass on the street that brightens an otherwise dismal day.

I think it's the intangible gifts I treasure most. :o)