thought that counts

I am a little obsessed with presents.  For me, it’s not so much about giving someone something, its about the ritual of finding what you think they would enjoy.  For me, it usually starts weeks in advance, by pouring over their interests in google and amazon searches trying to find something that fits in with their personality.  Next, of course comes the ordering.  Once everything’s arrived it’s time for my favorite part: the packaging.  I love buying nice boxes and putting stuff into them, layering weird and cool tissue paper inside of it, and putting a card over all of it, and then shipping it the next day.  It’s more for me than it is for them. I know that, and I’m okay with that.

A few months ago, one of the last few people I do this for,started to taunt me with it.  Keep in mind, I spend a good deal of money on gifts for her.  We were talking about gifts, and she started making me feel really stupid for spending money on other people.   She made it out to be a crime, and that in the end it wasn’t worth it, and that I should follow her example more - give small gifts, because its always the thought that counts.  Whatever it was, it rubbed me the wrong way.  I never give gifts thinking how I could make it as cheap as possible.  I always do what I can afford, but I don’t go cheap, thinking that just anything will do.  Sure anything will be appreciated, but I’m not looking for just appreciation, I’m looking for that kiddy thrill you get when you go to a movie theater for the first time, popcorn flying everywhere.

I did learn a valuable lesson though from her, don’t put too much effort into gifts for people who don’t deserve it.  Last year I made her a whole workout kit because she was into this whole fitness craze.  This year, i’m just going to mail her something directly from Amazon.  It’s the thought that counts, right?