It's A Gift

Since it appears today is going to be an "easy day" of catching up on real world projects (i have an - unrequested - easy week of semi-vaca from the 'bucks), and I am happy with where the blog is just now... I'm going to leave today with just a question for you, the reader... though I know when I do stuff like this, not much happens.

But it's worth a try.

I was thinking, just now, about gifts, and about giving. I love Christmas, and always have, not because I get presents - I mean, I do like them, but it's not a huge deal - but because I get to give them. I like choosing just the thing for people I know and love, wrapping it carefully, and seeing the look when they receive it, open it, and hopefully, like it.

In that vein, my question is, as we start the new year - what were some gifts you got this past year that you loved, and why?

Here are mine:

1. A lovely sweater from my boss, who had me as her Secret Santa. Totally unexpected, in my favorite color, and I didn't even ask.
2. The Women, on DVD, from my Mom. As we all move away from the VCR, I didn't even think about the fact that all I had was a VHS version of it. And my Mom just picked it, randomly, from my AOL wish list. What a treat.
3. A stove top Italian percolator, measuring spoon and coffee. Never a bridesmaid, or a bride, until this past year, I didn't know what to expect for the "bridesmaid's gift" - and I half feared a group gift of sad jewelry to wear at the ceremony, as I see so many other girls get. Instead, my Red, of course, picked just the perfect thing for each of us, based on her extensive study of our lives and tastes (no, really - she's a Virgo; I expect a spreadsheet was involved). And knowing my love of coffee (seriously, I discovered that as a barista), she got me one of those metal stove top percolators, coffee, a measuring scoop... and a little notebook to write my thoughts. And while I was initially unsure about the percolator, as it turns out, it is a delight: boil some water, send it through coffee grounds... and you get a perfect, one serving pot of perfect intense coffee. I just had a cup, in fact. As I do most days (or at least when I'm not trying out my new French Press which I got myself).

So... that's me. How about you?