Haven’t received this gift yet, but in six months I’ll be receiving my first ever niece and/or nephew. The news was completely unexpected as well as one of the best presents Santa ever gave me. 
My dad slipped me 50.00 for gas money. I’m 51.
Finally, when I was a young adult, I sort of resented that sort of gift, because I felt like I was being treated like a child instead of as a self-sufficient adult. Now that I have my own adult children, I get it: no matter how old they are, they’re my babies and I want to take care of them. It’s nice to be coddled every now and again, and I appreciate it when my mom and dad do little things like that.
One of my most unexpected gifts this year has been along those lines. My dad has a little job, working at a senior center, and has a lot of days off right now, due to their holiday schedule. He’s been coming to my house a couple of days a week - 80 miles each way - to help with our home remodel. He’s not a skilled craftsman, but the jobs he does are done very well. Even the minor stuff, like sorting the lumber pile, sawing up the bad stuff and stacking the good, hauling debris, etc., are welcome. And he’s the king of detail painting! Set him free with some enamel and some spray paint, and he’s saved us the cost of 16 new interior doors plus all the hardware, and countertops in all three bathrooms.
My other unexpected and welcome gifts were “environmentally friendly,” i.e. used. My mom, the Queen of the Thrift Store, found me a bee-you-tiful cashmere blazer from Brooks Brothers, and a vintage Coach shoulder bag for the princely sum of $2.14 (including tax.) She also gave us (me, really, since I’m the cook) a Kitchenaid wall oven with microwave and convection. Normally, a $3000 appliance, but she paid about $250. And my husband gave me a new-to-me cooktop: Viking 6-burner gas, $2500 new, which certainly isn’t in the budget, but $200 and a bit of driving, thanks to Craigslist. I can’t wait to start cooking at my new home!
A 10-speed bike.
I was 10 at the time.
My friends got me a Catbug backpack this year.
(Catbug is a character from the Bravest Warriors animated series.)
It is cute, and I’ll probably actually use it, but, guys…
I’m 43 years old here! Sigh.
Most of my gifts came from my Amazon list or Woolery registry, and most of the rest were clearly telegraphed ahead of time, so surprises were pretty few and far between. I didn’t know about the book of knitting patterns from my mom or the necklace from my aunt, but they often buy me such things so neither of those was all that surprising. My uncle and his wife sent me a couple of real surprises, though–a bento box and an art set with paints and oil pastels. They’re both very nice pieces, and it was nice to get a gift I didn’t have to pick out myself, but being unemployed I don’t really have any significant need to pack my lunch and I don’t draw or paint.