It’s that time of year again. That time of year, that is, when I have to come up with a good present for my grandfather for his birthday, and then, just a month and a half later, I have to come up with a good present for my grandfather for Christmas.
What do you get an 86-year-old man who’s got everything he needs (except, possibly, enough attention), and who is markedly unenthusiastic about almost anything whatsoever? Last year I had an enlargement done of a picture I’d taken of The Cat, and that was certainly a great success, but surely I can’t give him enlargements of pictures of The Cat every time? For one they would quickly run out of wall space. For two (ahem) it would get very boring very quickly. It’s tempring, though. There was a pretty good picture of The Cat on one of the films I picked up yesterday, and Japan Photo are doing enlargements as their October special. Still. Unsatisfactory. And there’s still Christmas.
Cat food? Useful, but not very exiting.
Think, think, think.
I love getting people presents in general. It’s just my grandfather. My grandmother can be difficult, but she collects key-rings so there’s always that to fall back on. My mother can be quite tricky, too, but that’s partly my own fault. I make the job difficult for myself because the reaction I’m aiming for, generally, when getting someone a present, is: “Wow! This would have been on top of my list if I’d even known it existed!” And some people are easier to “second-guess” so to say than others. My grandfather is impossible. My maternal grandmother was quite difficult, too. I guess my mother takes after her. I must take after my father (who is either pretty easy to please – for me – or very good at pretending to be pleased) in this respect. Or else people are just very good at buying me gifts.
Sometimes, of course, I do actually get people something they’ve asked for. It’s more fun to keep an element of surprise in there, though.
So. I’ve started my Christmas shopping list. Maybe I was inspired by the fact that it’s been snowing all day. Maybe it’s just the fact that I realised that if Linda’s going to get a Christmas calendar (and she is, of course) I really needed to start planning. Should I do more than one calendar, I wonder? Do I have the energy? Maybe not. What with being annoyed at Active ISP (the host for the NMWL site) and all the work I need (well, ok, want) to do on that site and the redesign of this site and the fixing up of the kitchen and, oh, work, must not forget work, most of the hours until 1 December (and WAY beyond) seem to be bagged already.
Voice in my head: Vonda Shepard – I Only Want to be with You