The Secret to a Perfect Gift

With Valentine’s Day approaching, once again, many of us think about giving a gift to our significant other, a good friend, a relative. It made me think about the art of giving gifts. Is it all about the package after all?

The Occasion

Of course we expect presents on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and so on, but I think it is really the no-occasion presents that are the nicest. They are truly unexpected, and to me, they say “I was thinking about you when I saw this.” A few years ago I was working on a huge project, putting in insane hours and working until 2:00 a.m. This went on for over a month. My husband got me an unexpected little present, an ancient Roman coin. It is not very valuable, but I love it, not only because it makes me think about all the millions of people who handled it before me, but most of all, because it was so unexpected. It became my talisman and I always feel a ray of sunshine when I handle it and feel its weight in my hand.

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The Wrapping

One of my favourite movies is “Love Actually” and I love the scene when Alan Rickman is trying to buy a gold necklace in a store and Rowan Atkinson is making a show of wrapping it. That is how gifts should be wrapped. The package is just as important as the contents. Of course, I don’t insist on a Christmas box, or a sprig of holly, but getting gifts that are wrapped nicely makes you feel really special. I am speaking here as a woman, of course, I have no idea if men feel the same way. So, if they ask you “would you like that gift-wrapped, sir?”, say yes. You know how you men keep the box from a really good package of pizza? We like to keep the box from that special something you got us, so make sure it’s a nice box.

It Doesn’t Have to be a Thing

One of my fantasies is that one day my husband will take me to the airport for my birthday and say “OK, honey, we are getting on a plane to Mexico! Happy Birthday!” That would be an AWESOME present! But hey, it doesn’t have to be Mexico, or Paris, or Rome, a stay in a hotel for a night would be nice too, somewhere far enough from home so that you don’t have to deal with kids popping over and stuff like that. I suggest a room overlooking Niagara Falls (if you’re in the area) or some other local attraction. Just stretching out on a bed that someone else made and watching movies with room service food is very nice. And if a bottle of champagne somehow manages to get itself ordered, well that’s good too! But if your budget doesn’t stretch to a hotel, any special meal, whether in a restaurant, or take-out is usually highly appreciated. And allowing your significant other to pick THEIR favourite movie to watch is important too.

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So, to give a good gift takes a bit of preparation in my books. It truly is an art. Mind you, receiving gifts in a gracious way can be an art too, but that’s a topic for another discussion. If all else fails, throw your arms around your loved one’s neck and say “darling!”

Cover of The Art of Gift Giving