The Art of Gift Giving.

When my sister and I collaborate, we're the fastest Christmas shoppers in the west.  We're a great pair when it comes to tackling the packed-out malls in the last days before Christmas.  Does this sweater work for Auntie So-and So?  Let's get fleece for Uncle X.  Grandpa gets another blanket. 

We always buy gifts for the relatives at Christmas.  But for my immediate family and I we don't normally exchange gifts.  For birthdays, we don't have a tradition of gift-giving either.  I think this has influenced much of my philosophy of receiving gifts.  Seriously, I'm perfectly fine if you give me a bottle of shampoo as a gift.  I'm a pragmatist.  I know that ruins the fun for those who like to give gifts.  But I'd rather something that I can consume.  

You may conclude that I don't like gifts at all.  Or some of you may be rethinking the gifts you've given in the past.  Au contraire.  I love that I have friends and family that care to give me gifts.   That, if you excuse the cheese, is the gift in itself.

I expect that bottles of shampoo may come my way soon.  Hint: I enjoy dental floss, too.