Could be unexpected good or unexpected not-so-good…what’d you get that totally surprised you?
My mom bought me Falconry lessons.
You could have knocked me over with, well, a falcon feather. I’ve never expressed an interest in falconry. Never talked about it; never even thought about it. I think stunned was her desired effect, because she just laughed when I was like, “Oh, wow, Mom, that’s…um, wow. Falconry…” She said she saw the discounted introductory lessons and thought it would be a cool thing for us to go do together. That’s my mom; she’s adventurous.
I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and very, very cool.
We host Xmas eve for my family each year. My daughter and her bf drove up from Virginia for the party (and drove back early the next morning, for work reasons). After not seeing her for a year, it was the best present ever.
A lot of my coworkers exchange presents and one older lady joins in. This lady is not poor so you can imagine my confusion when I opened her “gift” and found a baggie. Inside this baggie was a box of raisins, a mini nail file and a candy from Red Lobster! I don’t know how I’m going to thank her with a straight face!
My boyfriend bought me a pretty pair of winter boots. They were something I needed and very much appreciate! Just not something I would have bought for myself or even thought to ask for, because I’m just not a shopper when it comes to clothing/shoes.
I’ve visited a falconry centre and been close to those birds and they’re gorgeous. But having one on your arm and sending it into the air… well I’m envious.
I mentioned something the 23rd that no one had any idea how to get, as we’d only seen it for order. It was a squeeze-slushie maker. Mom just happened to see one when she went out.
I got a DVD set with 18 hours of video lectures on how to look at great art. It could be interesting, I don’t know. When I go to art museums, usually because somebody else wanted to and I’m being a good sport, it usually goes something like this:
at the Getty Center looking at Van Gogh’s Irises
Me: Nice purple flowers. And some grass, and I guess that’s dirt. I wonder if the cafe here has chicken Caesar salad.
So a bit of an odd present, but maybe it will be illuminating.
A Romanian pyrography of Vlad Dracula and Castle Bran, complete with an inscription in Romanian. Quite the find - I’m reasonably sure she got it at less than murderous prices.
A collapsible bread proofing box thingy. I quite enjoy baking, though I’ve not done it much in the last few years for a variety of reasons. Given how expensive the damn thing was, I think I’m going to feel obliged in the future. O.O
My SO, completely out of the blue, bought me a Movado Museum watch with a metal band, which even fit with no adjusting.
He was downtown on Monday and was considering buying something expensive for himself, since we usually don’t give each other expensive stuff, but he didn’t like the sales clerk’s attitude or something, and he decided he didn’t need whatever it was, so he just went window shopping. He saw this, remembered that I had admired them in the past, and just bought it. He was so excited to give it to me he made me open it that night.
It’s funny, this year I said to all my siblings, “Let’s not do presents this year. Most of us need nothing and have no room for anything. And many can’t afford to buy stuff just for the sake of giving a gift.” Everyone agreed. And it was quite liberating, not having to look for stuff to buy just so you could give it to someone. But this was the first year for me with no Christmas gifts whatsoever, and it was a little disappointing. The others got some gifts, I’m sure - they have spouses and adult children. I didn’t get any gifts or Christmas cards. But I will have more money to pay towards the roof that’s being installed in a week.
A 32" HDTV from my parents. Because the last few years, their finances have been so bad they couldn’t give me anything, and I hadn’t known they’d improved that much.
A few DVDs of old comedians from my mother’s aunt. Because her presents are usually duds (movies I won’t watch, clothes that either won’t fit, or won’t suit me), but this one was good. (Could have been better if she knew more about what series I liked, but there’s nothing I dislike, even if my favourites are missing.)
A total $100 cash from my two grandmothers. Because that’s twice what I’ve gotten from them for any year for the past decade.
My partner travels a lot on business, and he was scheduled to be somewhere in Eastern Europe for the holidays. I’m used to it, so it’s no biggie. But all of a sudden the trip was postponed, and we got to spend Christmas together, and possibly New Years too. Best present ever!
Which begs the question: and what did you reciprocate with?