Today I got an invitation to a wedding, yesterday I got an invite to the twenty-first birthday of my friend’s son, and tomorrow I will help organize a retirement party for a dear friend.
Normally I would be full of excitement with all the events and parties to attend, but as I sit here drinking my morning coffee and reflect upon the upcoming events, the feeling of dread strangely replaces that feeling of excitement. Parties mean gifts and gifts mean shopping.
I remember one Christmas a few years back I spend days walking around shops and departments stores wondering what would be a good gift to buy for an old friend who had everything. I knew her well so I saw a lovely sweater in a wool blend that would just great with her new dress I saw her in a few days previous. Imagine my horror when I saw her a few weeks later in the returns department taking the very gift I spent hours and days looking for back for an exchange. Weeks later I finally got up the courage to tell her I saw her returning my gift and asked her why. “It was lovely but I can’t wear anything wool.” She was a dear friend and I didn’t know this. Did I not listen, or did I not take notice of what she wore a lot of or was it just a simple error we all make. That awful event follows me each time I have to buy a present.
Get vouchers, I hear myself say. That is a good idea but so impersonal. Is it a lazy way out or an easier option? What do I do when someone gives me vouchers, I ask. Well I usually squander them on useless things here and there because I have them but never usually end up with any one thing to say it was a present.
With the internet such as it is, shopping is a lot easier; but how well do you know your friends and families tastes? Are we all getting lazy or should we spend a little more time learning about the people who we care about—their likes and dislikes. If we were all a little more observant, aside from the knowledge that the gift you bought for that occasion was exactly what they wanted, at best would we all end up with having more space in that special drawer … you know the one. It’s the one that is loaded with all the unwanted gifts that you have received.
