February 19th: Finding the perfect gift

There’s a special kind of joy I didn’t really address in the M2B:) book.  I’m glad I have this opportunity to suggest to all my fellow missionaries the happiness that awaits you when you search for and find the perfect gift.

Most of us can remember as very young people how excited we were to give our parents what we believed to be the greatest present EVER!!!  For me it was a toothpick holder, shaped by my very own hands,  in clay, and painted to look like a Mexican taking a nap under his oversized sombrero.  I was certain my parents, particularly my mother, would practically faint from the thrill of finally having a work of art holding all the toothpicks in the house.   Back in those days the “perfect present” was the one we wanted to give.

Later in life “the perfect present” was the one we could afford in our allowance-based budget.  I remember going Christmas shopping with my Grandma and searching the department stores that offered fabulous finds for my Mom, my Dad and my Sister for under twenty dollars–that’s not per gift, but for all three combined.   I believed I was inspired to get slippers, Aqua Velva and a hair band for my family for Christmas morning and the fact that I had enough left over from my twenty bucks to get a model airplane for my best friend made life sweeter than sweet.

The “perfect present” for the love of my life was more challenging, and required a decision.  Should I spend a lot of money which I didn’t have getting her something she’d be impressed by OR should I create something that didn’t cost much at all but was labor intensive and high on the “isn’t that sweet” scale.  I chose the later, and wrote songs.   The one girl that fell in love with the songs is the one I married.  Lucky me.

Today, I found great happiness in purchasing “the perfect present” for my dad.  He’s 85 today and hard to shop for.   He’s got all the shirts and slacks and ties a man could ever want, partly because he hasn’t thrown anything away in 47 years.   He loves tools and gadgets but he’s not as nimble and quick as he once was so I have safety concerns.   He’s way too thin so chocolate and gourmet licorice are excellent choices, but I wanted to get him something extra special.  I found it in the aisle at Day’s Market.  A gallon jug that’s microwave and freeze safe  with an extra large opening at the top that twists on and off and the lid had a spout that makes for drip free pouring.  What more perfect present could an eighty-five year old  man, who is ADDICTED to Crystal Light Lemonade, want OR need?   My father has been mixing his Crystal Light in a recycled plastic juice container for the last four years.  I know, I know, it’s sick and wrong and I should have stopped him years ago but I was too caught up on my own life.   That wrong, however, has been right-ed and I’m as happy a gift giver as I have ever been.

But wait, I exceeded even his deepest birthday expectations with TWO, count them, 2, boxes of Crystal Light Lemonade, (which I assume he will store with the other 14 boxes he has tucked away in various locations throughout the house.)    My prayer tonight for him is two fold. One, that someday he’ll be able to face is Crystal Light “problem” honestly and without intervention.  And Two, that the excitement of this day and these perfect gifts does not bring on a heart attack.