First let me say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you that have been kind enough to follow my blog. I have been a bit remiss in my posts but I will do my best to improve in 2010. Just before Christmas, I was delighted to find a package on my doorstep from a friend of mine that I haven’t seen since I moved. I seldom get presents in the mail so I was quite excited. When I opened the outside box, I found a smaller box, wrapped in lovely Christmas paper and tied with a red bow. Hmm…should I open it or set it under the tree? Well, I set it under the tree while I deliberated and went about my work.
When I was a child, opening of Christmas presents was so regimented, that now I just wanted to rebel and open the darn package. Later in the day, after all my work was up to date, I caved in, made a cup of tea, grabbed the package and headed for the den.
I studied the paper…so festive, I fingered the bow…tied perfectly, I shook it…gently. Okay! Enough! I confess I’m a five year old in a 62 year old body! I slid my finger under the tape…pop! then the other side. I shook the box again…nothing rattled. Now the paper was off, but the box yielded no clues…next I lifted the lid to find tissue paper…lots and lots of tissue paper!
Finally I felt something through the tissue, I ran my hand around it, trying to guess what it could be. It was on the heavy side, it felt almost like the outline of a frame. I had teased myself long enough and ripped the paper off. I was right! It was a lovely silver picture frame, with intricate silver vines woven around the edges.
It would have been so much more delightful, if it hadn’t been what I had given her last year, for her birthday!
Have you ever given or received a re-gifted present?
29 comments:
I don't think I ever had a present that I had previously given the giver. And since we stopped most gift-giving anyway (we have everything)...
Well, I was feeling excited right along with you -- believe me, I'm a five-year old in a 76 year old body! Guess I've been lucky?? maybe? but haven't given or received a re-gifted present, but I can imagine how I'd feel -- amused mostly and at myself!
Have a great week, Sunny!
Sylvia
I suspect I have, but never one that I myself had given in the first place...except for the gifts my mother returned to me the year before she died. That was truly appreciated by me, it's nice to have them.
I think in a case like yours, with it beautifully wrapped, it would jar your senses a little and leave you wondering!
I never have, but I have opened presents and then never use the gift. I have an electronic game on my wall that I have never used and it was a gift seven years ago. Maybe it will be an antique soon.
Well, look at it this way: if you hadn't loved it so much that you bought it for her, you must like it, so there! I wonder if I've ever done anything like this and not known it!
At least you got something you liked!
I just had this brilliant idea, it shall be her gift next holiday. This could go on for years...
I am a re-gifter myself, but I never give anything that I can't recall where it came from. And I never EVER give a gift that I don't think the receiver would LOVE...or at least like! :)
Did you like the frame, or did you think it suited your friend's taste more than yours? Anyway, funny story!
Blessings!
Uh Oh....do you think she forgot you gave it to her????
Did you see The Thorn Birds, years ago? I don't know why this statement had such an impact on me but Barbara Stanwick said she was a young person trapped in an old body....I felt so sorry for her...I think she was in love with Richard Chamberlain, can't really remember that part. I was young then/ha but she really got to me when she said that....and now I can totally relate......Anyway I ramble but when you said 5 year old in 62 year old body I thought of Barbara again!
Uh Oh.... Funny, but not so funny.... My ex's family used to exchange Christmas presents and we were constantly receiving 'used' gifts from one family member. It got to be hilarious!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
How fun to open the package right along with you.
No, I've never received the same gift back.
My friend and I have did give each other the exact same gift once though.
Oh, that's too funny!
I get re-gifted gifts all the time, but my sweet Mama tells me who gave them to her and how long ago with a qualifying remark of "I know you'll make much better use of this than I would"! Well, not usually, but I wouldn't say so for the world. It's the thought that counts! Blessings, Becky
OH~~~~
That is hysterical, and you wrote it wonderfully as I didn't even see it coming!
Happy New Year...and I know I'll be here and laughing whenever you post because you are just the best!
Too funny! When you give a gift it's up to the receiver what they want to do with it, but I would be afraid I'd do like your friend and forget who gave it to me.
Oh how funny. At least she recognized your taste and knew you would like it.
I don't mind a regift as long as it is not being passed off an original.
My favorite jacket I got this year as a regift from my sister who acknowledged it as such. It was just too warm for Florida and perfect for Arkansas. It is sooo warm.
That was so unexpected. Did you let her know what she had done? I have regifted, but as far as I know I never returned one to the giver. Too funny and awkward.
Oh, I never saw it coming, but it is kind of amusing! I've not had this experience. I enjoyed your 'to open or not to open'! You have a great sense of humor.
Before I owned a computer, I used my kid's computers to check blogs etc. Hope your friend doesn't do this!
Nooooo, oh no!
Too funny!! The only time we re-gift is at our annual Christmas Party where just wrap up gifts we may have received at the same party on previous years and add them to the pile for those guests who forget to bring a gift!
It's the thought that counts...right???
No, Sunny. Can't say that I have gotten anything like that. Also, like you, I'm a 5 yr. old in a 62 yr. old body, sometimes.
Youer stories are always a pleasure to read.At least you should like the gift. It hasn't happened to me, although we used to get weird gifts off some children at school. The teachers used to have a competition to see who got the worst gift.
Oops! I haven't had this experience, but I enjoyed your delightful post. I'll also admit that I'm a five-year old in a sixty-eight year old body!
About five years ago, we gave a little Father Christmas figure to my close friend Carol and her hubby. The next year, they gave it to us. We smiled and said nothing (as close as we were, it still bothers me that I didn't speak up immediately, but it was one of those awkward moments). Year three, we had our one-and-only big Christmas party and my hubby had too much to drink. He took the piece from our mantel and told a dozen guests, including Carol, the (to him and the other guests) hilarious story of the regifting. Carol was gracious, but the next day I told my husband I thought he had embarrassed her. He panicked and called to apologize, but they left town for a month without getting the message. He was certain he'd blown the friendship. On their return, Carol said she hadn't been insulted; we're still friends. She told me she'd put the figure away with her other Christmas things with a little Post-it that had our names on it. So the next year when she found it, she thought it was something she'd bought for us in advance.
Sorry for the long post, but I couldn't resist.
What a hoot..maybe she is just getting old! I will have to remember this..I give my daughter everything I don't want she uses them as Bunco prizes:)
I was so excited reading and I thought you were going to say inside was a smaller wrapped gift. The ending is funny in a way, but rather sad too. I should imagine disappointment mingled with what? Disbelief? Hmm... not good, not good at all. She obviously suffers with memory loss - perhaps you could return the favour next year?
Just joking. But really, it isn't a nice thing to do nowis it? I received a present from my gd - Nutrimetics and a money box with a painted pig with a mug also with a painted pig. Turns out someone gave her the Nutrimetics which she couldn't use, so she asked her mum could she use it, mum said no, give it to me. Who can I give it to? It'll have to be the Salvos - everybody knows you don't buy this stuff in a shop.☺
I do recycle wrapping papaer though, but you need to remember not to wrap a gift and five to the person from whom the paper came.
Cheers.
Melbourne Daily Photo
I really miss you! You always make me laugh!
I don't want to be cruel. But some of us in the journey beyond 60 are on the road with better facilities than others. Maybe that is a problem for your friend that she (or he) is not yet aware. Either that, or friend needs to begin being a list maker. ("Now, where did I put that darn gift list?")
Anyway, it was a lovely story. And nice to know that you have not lost the sense of enjoyment, mystery, and anticipation that belonged to this holiday season when we were all kids. Me neither!
Happy New Year!
What a great post. You had me to the very end!
You described the anticipation you felt so well! I was right alongside you, peering over your shoulder while you opened the box!
That was just too funny! Can you say "AWKWARD"? At least she wasn't with you when you opened it! Of course, you could have said, "Gee, this looks EXACTLY like the one I bought you last year! WHAT a coincidence! Great minds think alike!"
I have never regifted before until this year. I received a magnetized calender from someone, and since my refrigerator in the trailer has a wooden surface (to match the cabinets) I had no place to hang it. So I gave it to my sister to use in a grab bag.
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