Kevin Marshall's America
Though sentimental and romantic, I am absolute crap when it comes to giving gifts. I’d say I was a ‘notoriously bad gift-giver,’ but that would lend my abilities or lack thereof the compliment of being memorable.
The gifts I give are often boring and uninspired, but not in a manner that offends. Most of my them are entertainment: books, DVDs, and music.
The best gift I ever gave someone was a tastefully decorated box, complete with removable top.
I can say that they’re at least adherent to the taste of the recipient; I’m not one of those that’s going to give you a CD of a band that I like and I think you should like, too. So if you’re getting a gift from me, I’ll at least do you the favor of trying to buy something for you. Beyond that, I’m not going to be the one to give you that gift that invokes a great memory you’ll cherish and think of every time you pass a house with a wreath on the door.
Other than maybe that one time I made my parents an ashtray in Elementary school. It was blue and had my fingerprints – literally – all over it.
Thankfully it won’t be an issue this year. For one, I’m single, as is always the case at Christmas-time. Perhaps I subconsciously sabotage my relationships before the start of winter to ensure I don’t disappoint someone under the tree. When it comes to family, my siblings and I don’t put much emphasis on it, and the nieces and nephews…well, the two older nieces are tough to buy for, but kids are great because you can pretty much buy them any cool toy you come across. They’re just happy you brought them a box with stuff in it.
But for all the things I do beat myself up over, poor gift-giving actually isn’t one of them.
I think too much emphasis is put on the importance of a good gift. I say this not as someone who doesn’t want to spend the money or time on it, but as someone who has put in that effort with little success.
It seems, too, that there are others out there who are in the same boat. As I was writing this, I was talking to an acquaintance who has been with someone for four years and still has no idea what to buy him at Christmastime. So he gets socks and a shirt.
Why not? And who cares, they’ve been together for four years. That counts for something, right?
They say it’s the thought that counts, but I’ll go one step further and say that the gift really shouldn’t matter all that much at all. If you’re happy with the people in your life – whether they be friends, family, or a significant other – then a material item can’t and won’t displace or negate it.
If a person doesn’t care about you or doesn’t think you’re important in their lives, the signs are going to be bigger and not come wrapped in a bow. And if they do care, then nothing they buy can act as a substitute for the ways in which they can show it to you on a daily basis.
But hey, that’s just me. I’m a romantic and a sentimental fool.
Who is absolutely terrible at buying gifts.
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6 Responses to I Suck at Giving Gifts
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“For one, I’m single, as is always the case at Christmas-time. Perhaps I sub-consciously sabotage my relationships before the start of winter to ensure I don’t disappoint someone under the tree.”
Gold.
My inability to write Birthday cards trumps my own poor gift-giving skills – and by a lot. I usually draw my niece or nephew a card and write a little note, but when trying to think of what to write; it either sounds really Hallmark or way above the reading level of an 8-year old. I need to find that middle ground.
The middle ground for me this year was to put his gift inside an empty box of bacon. Why? I claim it’s for the art of surprise (See: cruelty). But, it’s really to, hopefully, stir a little bit of confusion and excitement and mask the horribly written note inside. Let’s hope he goes straight for the video game.
Vincent - I think it’ll work.
“Uncle Vinny, what’s ‘decadence’ mean? WHOA BACON?!”
Got it, Kevin, you suck at gift giving–yet, somehow, you managed to convert this apparent liability into an assest; practically raising it to the level of high virtue.
Perhaps, you should seriously consider running for office.
I suck at *receiving* gifts. Meaning, I am quite difficult to shop for. Granted, those who would be giving me gifts tend to know my tastes (or at least some of them) and that provides a bit of guidance, but apparently it’s not enough. I get asked every year to make a Christmas list and I resist doing so, partly because oftentimes I don’t know what I want and partly because the few things I do want are either specific enough that I feel I’d be better off buying it myself or expensive enough that I’d feel guilty asking someone else to buy it for me. This year I finally broke down and half-heartedly threw together a short list. It’s not that I don’t enjoy Christmas, I just don’t like asking for stuff.
I used to work with a guy who consistently gave his wife clothes or perfume – that he thought she should be wearing, not that she liked (she didn’t even wear perfume).
That’s a person who sucks at giving gifts. There’s no way your gifts are any worse.
Kevin you and Amanda would be a perfect match at Christmas time. She hates the thought of being the recipient and your a reluctent buyer. You two should make a pact to spend every unattached December doing nothing for eachother. ahh the Holidays….