Tuesday 12 September 2017

#248 Choosing a gift for someone who can't accept gifts

I needed to get a gift for someone today. I mean, I felt like it. It seemed appropriate. Only it wasn't appropriate. This person isn't supposed to accept gifts. At least I don't think they are. They liked the last one I got them though, so I figured it was ok. When they start to protest, I might think twice.

It's difficult shopping for gifts. Everyone has everything. At least most people I know seem to. It's not difficult like learning a piano piece or bowling three strikes in a row. More like getting one strike, or deciding correctly whether to bring an umbrella every day for a month.

I usually shop in the physical stores, I don't feel like browsing pictures of things, I want to pick them up. Get them instantly. Without postage. I find it surprising that so much shopping's done online until I remember how busy most people are. Too busy to go to the shops? Maybe, some of them. Each to their own.

I thought about asking the person what they wanted but that ruins two things. The element of surprise and the element of initiative. How can a person expect to get better at choosing gifts if they never choose them? To ask whether it's possible to choose the right gift isn't to ask much more than whether it's possible to really know someone. Nobody has everything.

I decided on a thermos, which had some suitable text written across it. It was more the text that I liked than the thermos. I wonder if everyone thinks they're good at choosing gifts. I sometimes get told that I am but then I wonder. The things that mean something aren't always very useful, whereas socks and utensils sometimes seem too useful.

The rest can help. The right gift bag, the right card, the right message written neatly in fountain pen. I hate gift bags but they've become necessary. Up until I was well into my twenties, I would've never thought to use them. Now look at me. Using gift bags. Who'd've thunk it?

6 comments

Running on empty said...

Its sweet you went to all that trouble. Puzzled why they can't accept gifts, tho. Perhaps I shouldn't ask.

I love giving gifts. Is part of my love language. I have a bunch sitting here I need to send tho. Gosh we are getting closer to Christmas!
In our nuclear family we rarely wrap things the last few years. I suppose that helps the environment, but gift bags or wrap are still trotted out for others.

Profound Familiarity said...

I suppose I could try to make sure my wrapping paper is recycled/sustainable this year.

Fizzfan said...

Ditto, very thoughtful of you, and when it's a complete surprise for no particular occasion, it's extra thoughtful.

When you want to buy gifts it's very absorbing and rewarding.. however, when you have to, it's a bit of a pain.
I have a limited 'want to' list of people now of nuclear family and a couple of very close friends.

Running on empty said...

So,Russia, USA, Britain, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, but definitely not New Zealand?

Fizzfan said...

Tehehe. Yeah, I like spreading the love ;)))

Running on empty said...

Ooohh!! Email me the deets !!!!!