What’s the Best Gift You’ve Ever Given or Received?

When I was growing up, there were two presents I could always count on finding under our tree. One was a new flannel nightgown from my mother and the other was a box of candy from my father. He would always buy it on Christmas Eve just after he closed his place of business for the holiday and just before he headed home. It was always a Whitman’s Sampler purchased and wrapped at the drugstore down the street. (For those “youngsters” in the group, drugstores were very different back then.) When I got married, I explained to my husband that whatever else he might decide to get me for Christmas, the box of candy was non-negotiable.

judyhelen
Accidentally clicked the submit button so didn't get to finish. Too bad you don't have a button that would prevent that. Any chance you could add the ending?

The last part is:

"To LoriLoriLori - Your message really lifted my spirits. I laughed so hard that my joy is finally back. Keeping things in perspective is really important and you gave me the BEST gift of all - understanding and laughter.
Thank you"

I know this is a cop-out, but there's too many to write up a clever and witty response to share. Since I am a designer, I've sometimes taken gone to great lengths to make a gift special...

Now that I think about it, I do have something to say about Gift Cards as gifts:

Ultimate laziness...just like Wedding Registry. I'd rather my mom give cash because the last gift of Omaha Steaks $100 Gift card literally cost me $5 to use for anything worthwhile! There a larger story here too...

JCPenney? Are they even in the New York metro area? I really thought they might have been bought by Target or something.

The BEST gift I have ever recived was the SURPRISE wake up for my 40th B-Day. I had a glass of wine with dinner as is customary on Friday nights for us and I went to lay down for a few minutes. The next thing I heard was Mom come quick - Dad fell down. I jumped up looking like......................I just got out of bed and there were my favorite cousins and my sister-in law with a HUGE cake. What a great GIFT. The "Dad fell down" was significant as my husband had just recovered from severe case of Guillian Barre in the past year.
So since that Gift I have never expected another and have recieved many. mostly flowers sent from my kids to me at work. Sharing the joy of gifting is the best.

This was a gift for my mother. When she had her tonsils removed as a child, her grandmother gave her a little get well gift, 2 tiny figurines, a Little Red Riding Hood and Wolf in bed. They were lost when she moved from her parents house. I knew that they were special since I had never seen them but I knew just what they looked like from they way she talked about them. On a fluke I searched eBay and BOOM there they were. Actually I had to bid on many sets over a few months. Most sets went for over $100. One day I got lucky, there was a perfect set posted, I bid and won. I wrapped the little guys up and on Christmas day my mother was speechless. She never imaged she wold see them again. They are now in a special spot, so she can see them each day.

Caroll
My husband passed away in 2001 and I've had a hard time moving on. My kids are both musicians and last year my daughter wrote a song about my husband and me (from my point of view) and my son put it to music. She included things that I had told her about her dad, like how every time I feel the first cool breeze of the year I think of him and how he used to sing to me sometimes. They recorded it on a cd and gave it to me with the words printed out. This is definitely the most touching and thoughtful gift I've ever gotten. I still can't listen to the song without crying but they are "good tears."

The best gift I've ever received was my daughter being born the week before Christmas. Such a special year for us.

My cousin gave me a wonderful gift of our grandmother's famous recipes. She put them together in a three-ring binder and even included the recipes in Mammaw's own handwriting. We could barely read some of the recipes because the original had been so tattered, but this gift has always been a precious memory of her love and affection for her family.

THe best gift I ever received was from my Dad. I was about 10 years old and he had this "special" present under the tree for me he had me all psyched out about what it was. I couldn't wait until Christmas morning to open up this special present he had picked out just for me. Well Christmas morning came and I opened it up it was block of wood wit the words written "Ha Ha gotcha love Dad" on it. I have kept it for the last 14 years, I even set up a table with the story attached to it for his funeral, every time I see it, it makes me laugh and remember the fun goofy times we had. RIP Dad I love you and miss you.

My daughter gave me a wonderful gift a few years ago. She is usually very thoughtful about her gifts. She also claims that it is difficult to pick out gifts for me. I cherish anything and everything that comes from both my children. I keep their cards for years and years. One year it seemed that I would not get a gift from my daughter. She surprised me though with a beautiful locket on a chain. I did not realize it at first so she said,"open it mom." She pointed to the sterling silver locket around my neck at that point. When I opened it I found she had put two pictures inside. They were two of my very favorite pictures of she and her brother when they were pre-schoolers. I had to fight back the tears. Everytime, I begin tp miss them desperately from our empty nest, I wear the locket. I get all kinds of compliments on it. I falls just above my haert. It gives me a very warm and loving feeling everytime. It is almost as if they are both there with me.