Best Gifts
Project 5: Best Gifts 26 July 2007
Everyone loves receiving gifts. When I receive a gift, I am very excited.
I admire the pretty wrapping paper
Shake it gent-ly
Trying to guess the content.
I slowly open it, suppressing the butterflies in my stomach… Is it the latest iPhone? Or is it the LV wallet I wanted badly?
Birthday, wedding, – they are important events of our life - a time to celebrate, a time to give and take. We want to buy the right gifts ... something unique, something special, perhaps creative and cool… basically we want the best gifts!
My niece's birthday is coming
Next year is my parents' golden jubilee
I want to get them the best gifts. But what is the best gift?
My niece, Audrey is 14 years old.
When Audrey was younger, it was so easy to buy her gifts. I still remember her delighted face when she saw the pair of Barbie doll shoes, matching hair band and the cute little dangling earrings.
She is older now, maybe she wants the latest Harry Potter book. Haha. A gift that she can open again and again! What about “I am not a Plastic Bag”?
Recently I watched a film “I Not Stupid Part 2”. Have you seen it? Did you remember the boy Jerry, Jerry desperately wants his busy consultant daddy to attend his school concert, to watch him perform! He sold his precious pokemon cards to raise money. Thinking he could buy his dad's time. His dad charges a fee of $3000 an hour when he meets his customer.
The film enlightened me.. I realize the best gift is the purity of attention. The best gift is being present…..to be there for your loved ones! Absence does not make the heart fonder.
I know, a good game of tennis with Audrey, her favourite games, a pretty T-shirt is something Audrey will treasure for many years to come!
What about my parents, what should I buy for them – 50 years of marriage, a call for big celebration. I want to reward them with something meaningful!
It's a difficult task, they seem to have everything they need.
I wonder what do they REALLY want?
A pewter photo frame? A matching His and Her gold watch?
I was walking along Cat Street in Central last week and came across an old man peddling odds and ends. I saw Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, some badges and several other souvenirs. A Liberation Army Cap caught my eyes - I could wear it to my company’s annual dinner.
“Uncle, $10 for this cap?”
“No, young lady, $40. It's a real thing. I wore it during the Cultural Revolution. It means a lot to me. $40”
I was skeptical as I know of seller telling sob story to raise up the price.
“Uncle, then don't sell it! Keep it at home, keep as memory”
“Young lady, you don't understand. I have to sell these, my children complain these things are rubbish, old fashioned. They don't like it. They want me to throw away. So I try to sell them now. $40 you want?”
Uncle's heartfelt words struck a chord with me.
“Pa, no space at home! Throw this vase away!”
This ugly looking vase is bulky, cracks and collects dust.
For years, I have been nagging my parents to throw it away. For years, they fought to keep it, we didn't understand and kept up with our nagging.
“Ma, no space at home! Throw it away”
That day, the uncle at Cat street opened my heart and mind……
I realize the best gift for my parents - is to make space for them to keep their old treasures.
Ladies and Gentlement, the best gift does not have to be expensive, the best gift does not have to be tangible. The best gift can be a hug - one size fits all and I do not mind if you pass it on to someone else.
The best gift could be your attention, it may be making storage space
Do you have to buy a gift for someone soon? Think about it! What's the BEST gift?
Everyone loves receiving gifts. When I receive a gift, I am very excited.
I admire the pretty wrapping paper
Shake it gent-ly
Trying to guess the content.
I slowly open it, suppressing the butterflies in my stomach… Is it the latest iPhone? Or is it the LV wallet I wanted badly?
Birthday, wedding, – they are important events of our life - a time to celebrate, a time to give and take. We want to buy the right gifts ... something unique, something special, perhaps creative and cool… basically we want the best gifts!
My niece's birthday is coming
Next year is my parents' golden jubilee
I want to get them the best gifts. But what is the best gift?
My niece, Audrey is 14 years old.
When Audrey was younger, it was so easy to buy her gifts. I still remember her delighted face when she saw the pair of Barbie doll shoes, matching hair band and the cute little dangling earrings.
She is older now, maybe she wants the latest Harry Potter book. Haha. A gift that she can open again and again! What about “I am not a Plastic Bag”?
Recently I watched a film “I Not Stupid Part 2”. Have you seen it? Did you remember the boy Jerry, Jerry desperately wants his busy consultant daddy to attend his school concert, to watch him perform! He sold his precious pokemon cards to raise money. Thinking he could buy his dad's time. His dad charges a fee of $3000 an hour when he meets his customer.
The film enlightened me.. I realize the best gift is the purity of attention. The best gift is being present…..to be there for your loved ones! Absence does not make the heart fonder.
I know, a good game of tennis with Audrey, her favourite games, a pretty T-shirt is something Audrey will treasure for many years to come!
What about my parents, what should I buy for them – 50 years of marriage, a call for big celebration. I want to reward them with something meaningful!
It's a difficult task, they seem to have everything they need.
I wonder what do they REALLY want?
A pewter photo frame? A matching His and Her gold watch?
I was walking along Cat Street in Central last week and came across an old man peddling odds and ends. I saw Chairman Mao's Little Red Book, some badges and several other souvenirs. A Liberation Army Cap caught my eyes - I could wear it to my company’s annual dinner.
“Uncle, $10 for this cap?”
“No, young lady, $40. It's a real thing. I wore it during the Cultural Revolution. It means a lot to me. $40”
I was skeptical as I know of seller telling sob story to raise up the price.
“Uncle, then don't sell it! Keep it at home, keep as memory”
“Young lady, you don't understand. I have to sell these, my children complain these things are rubbish, old fashioned. They don't like it. They want me to throw away. So I try to sell them now. $40 you want?”
Uncle's heartfelt words struck a chord with me.
“Pa, no space at home! Throw this vase away!”
This ugly looking vase is bulky, cracks and collects dust.
For years, I have been nagging my parents to throw it away. For years, they fought to keep it, we didn't understand and kept up with our nagging.
“Ma, no space at home! Throw it away”
That day, the uncle at Cat street opened my heart and mind……
I realize the best gift for my parents - is to make space for them to keep their old treasures.
Ladies and Gentlement, the best gift does not have to be expensive, the best gift does not have to be tangible. The best gift can be a hug - one size fits all and I do not mind if you pass it on to someone else.
The best gift could be your attention, it may be making storage space
Do you have to buy a gift for someone soon? Think about it! What's the BEST gift?
posted by Mae at
8:55 AM
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