Gifts

Is there any better feeling than knowing that you chose the perfect gift for someone? Maybe, but it's a feeling I like a lot. I have known people who were amazing gift-givers; they just always seemed to know what was perfect for everyone. My brother's ex-girlfriend is a good example. She was so sweet, and while I think sometimes she went a bit overboard, every gift she chose for every member of our family was just right. I'm not that good, but on occasion I do get it right.

Tomorrow is my son's girlfriend's birthday, and I've had her gift hidden in my garage for two months. I gave it to her tonight and she loved it as much as I had hoped she would. She likes elephants, or at least representations of elephants. She always wears a silver necklace in the shape of an elephant that my son got her for a special occasion a few years ago. She has various artifacts throughout their home with elephants on them. So when I was in the vintage store where I have a booth and saw an elephant lamp, I just couldn't resist. It wasn't expensive. According to the store owner, the seller is elderly and is just clearing out some items she accumulated from a lifetime of traveling and living abroad. I think the elephant lamp is from Africa, but I'm not certain. It's handcarved solid wood, teak or something similar. It's quite large. Earlier today I brought it in from the garage and polished it. Both she and my son were blown away. I also gave her a pair of silver earrings I got in Mexico. My Las Vegas buddies I hung out with for a day -- or one of them, anyway -- helped me negotiate the beach vendors. I wasn't going to give her any gifts other than the elephant lamp, but when I saw these beautiful earrings and the way they glistened in the sunlight, I had to get them for her. And they looked as perfect on her as I had hoped (and she loved them).

She knew I'd been itching to give her a special gift, and she knew I'd had it for a while. We were supposed to go to dinner tonight, but everyone's schedule got messed up and we had to cancel the reservation, but I told her if they felt like it, they could stop by so I could give her her gifts. I think they came over more for my benefit than hers; she was probably curious about the gift but could have waited until the weekend. It's very nice that she and my son made the trip across town to let me present my presents, which may seem weird, but the three of us have crazy schedules and sometimes I see them less than my other sons, who don't live in town. Seeing them, even briefly, and savoring the joy she got from the gifts made my day. Sappy as it sounds, it was a gift for all of us.