Thursday, November 30, 2006
The day after Thanksgiving started the holiday shopping season. Of course, we had to start quite early because this year, Hanukkah's early... starts December 15. So I made my list over Thanksgiving and started my shopping.
Maybe it's my age or something. But while I was selecting gifts for some of my loved ones living far away, I had the conscious thought that for some of these gifts, I will never get thanked. I will actually never even know if the gifts arrived. I'll buy them, wrap them, take them to the post office, and stand in line... just does not seem right. So I started to question myself... why am I purchasing these gifts?
Of course, I do it because gift-giving is mostly about the giver. I feel good about myself for remembering these more-removed relations. With the families flung so far apart, we don't see each other except at weddings and funerals. Once a year, I think of them and where they're at in life and what they might enjoy. And once a year -- even for a moment when the paper gets ripped open -- they'll think of me too. That's good enough for me. Sort of.
It would be better still if the gift prompted an email or a phone call. Just to say, thanks for thinking of my kids again this year. Hope your family is well. We're doing fine.
Should I let the non-thanking bother me? I like to think that my gifts are given without strings... but the ones that never get acknowledged just hang out there. Sort of like saying I love you to someone, and having them give you that blank stare in return...