Cool Gifts
In our house, Christmas gift-giving borders on the mercenary. No wait, I take that back. In our house, Christmas gift-giving is mercenary. Catalogs with post-its strategically placed, annotated magazine ads, Google maps left lying around with specific directions to stores, aisles, shelves, products; these are the telltale signs of Christmas in the White household. Christmas desire conversations go pretty much like this:
"What do you want for Christmas?"
"I sent you an email with links."
Our letters to Santa are very, very specific. There's to be no guesswork, thank you very much.
But every once in a while, we wing it and guesswork prevails. In my case this year, it prevailed quite successfully. I received two presents that were way, way cool. The first surprise present was a travel edition of Scrabble. The tiles snap into the squares, the board folds up into this neat folio, the game stows neatly in a backpack.
The other surprise present was a deck of "The Famous Sea and Coastal Bird Playing Cards."
Oh. My. God.
Each card has a different sea or shore bird pictured on it. They're not all North American birds but who cares? This is the coolest deck of cards I've ever seen. And this includes the naked lady cards I had in 8th grade. The joker has the magnificent frigatebird. The ace of spades has the white-tailed eagle. The ace of hearts has the Atlantic puffin. I can play cards and bird all at the same time.
My next game of Go Fish will be so special.
K-
Birds over naked ladies. 51 is when that happens?
Oh, no. That happened a long time ago. As you age, your priorities shift. When I was young, naked ladies were a priority. Now it's other things. Like fresh produce.
K-
I have never asked anyone what they want for Christmas. Now, that might not be a popular plan, but it's mine.
When I give gifts to children, I always add a neat package tie-on (hand held games being a favorite of mine). That way, if they don't like the gift, they might like the tie-on.
Actually, I think I do fairly well.
Happy New Year.
and have fun with those cards.
Cassie, I'm sure your plan works. That was pretty much my mother's plan. I like your idea for the tie-on gift.
K-