ON GIVING

This is shaping up to be a very gift-card-y Christmas. Since I will be traveling cross-country to celebrate, I don't want to lug a bunch of gifts with me (either going there or returning). Also, "lug" is a fantastic word. Anyways, my family is getting the some-would-say-less-personal gifts of "gift cards."

Friends, on the other hand, are getting actual gifts. Sort of. We're all chipping in to get a big hilarious gift card for a big not-hilarious guy. But the others...I am not normally a good gift selector. But this year - I think I NAILED two of them, just perfect gifts. Knocked them out of the park. One is a good choice - a solid ground-rule double, to continue the baseball metaphor. But the last one...well, that was a tough gift. Obviously, my friend isn't going to be angry about it - "How dare you give me things!" - but still, I want my friends to like their gifts.

As to the contradiction between getting personal gifts for friends and less-personal gifts for family...I don't know that I have a good reason (other than the distance) for doing so. I considered donating to charities in everyone's names, but I think the "Human Fund" episode of Seinfeld kind of ruined that for everyone...way to go, Costanza.