The only gifts I need to get are for the boys' teachers and their helpers. I have cards for them and the bus drivers. But I need to get the gifts. I'd like to be the sort of person that gives meaningful handmade whatsits all done up in pretty bags with elaborate bows. The gift that says "she put a lot of thought & effort into this"
But I'm the sort of person who drops a gift card in a plain white envelope & maybe adds a small Whitman's sampler. The gift that says "oh she stopped at Wal Mart on her way here"
I don't mind being that person really. I think a gift card is appreciated by nearly everyone & I know plenty of people who find meaningful handmade whatsits to be a bit of a burden (especially if they are not really to their taste. You have to keep them, they are handmade, but you don't really want them so you feel guilty)
Food used to be easy to give but now everyone is on a diet or allergic or only eating organic & locally produced things or avoiding certain things for a variety of ethical or moral reasons so you never know how it will be received. The only safe food to give is fresh spinach from your own backyard and darn it, I forgot to plant any in October.
I used to do 'movie night' bags for adults I don't know well. A movie rental card, some microwave popcorn & a big box of Goobers or M&Ms. Obviously the food is out. Our local, to the school, movie rental place is Movie Gallery but they are closing many of their stores & the next closest is over an hour from the school. Blockbuster is 40 minutes from the school in any direction, which is a bit inconvenient for borrowing & returning. If I knew where the teachers lived I'd feel better about giving the cards.
After considering all my options I think a Visa gift card is what is likely. Maybe I'll get all crafty & sew some bags out of Xmas fabric and put holiday wrapped candy in them.
Wait...the sewing machine is currently buried under a stack of papers & things and my craft table has various random electronic parts piled on it.
Maybe I'll buy some bags and put holiday wrapped candy in them.
Next year I'll remember to plant the spinach.
