As I’ve gotten older, I truly value gifts that are practical, gifts that I can use on a regular basis. I don’t collect things and I hate clutter (ignore the fact that my apartment is always a mess). My Mother and I are the exact opposite. She loves to collect things and her house is full of clutter from her candlestick holder phase, to her chicken infatuation (she was born in the year of the rooster and loves anything that has a rooster on it. In her living room alone there are 13 items with roosters on it!), from her Swarovski crystals, to her newest phase of collecting pretty coffee mugs; my mother is a veritable pack rat. I have become more like my father in the sense that I don’t care/need sentimental gifts. And the worse part is I can’t really throw away the gifts or return/exchange them because my Mom will get offended. So instead, I have to keep them and put them on display in my apartment.
My Mother got me this little calendar thingy for my desk at work, but it’s really meant for the kitchen. So that is where I have placed it, besides it would’ve taken too much room on my desk. I never change the days like I’m supposed to. The last time it was changed was on Christmas and that’s because my Mom came over and saw that it wasn’t up-to-date, so she changed it herself. Its not really ugly, but I have no need for it.
This fish thing, she got for me while she was in Oakland visiting my brother. It’s horrendous and I have it sitting next to the TV. She said the fish reminded her of me because it was making a kissing face and has a margarita on the side. I think she was implying that I’m an alcoholic of some sorts.
This butterfly candle, she got for me when I first moved into my apartment. It currently lives on top of my bookshelf. She thought it would be pretty in my new place. While I love candle gifts and do use the candles she gets me, this is just plain gaudy. It reminds me of something you’d have in your dorm room, but alas, I now have it.
And for this year’s Valentine’s Day, she got me these two stuffed animals. I admit I have two stuffed animals on my bed currently, but that’s it! I stopped collecting stuffed animals when I was in high school. I feel like every year she gets me a stuffed animal and most years, I tell her that she can have it, and they end up scattered around her house. I think she thinks I’m still 12.
I hate to sound unappreciative, cause I know that she loves me and is buying me these things because she does love me. I just wish she would realize that I don’t need these things and perhaps buy me something more useful. Or better yet, just don’t buy me anything at all and make me a nice yummy dinner instead. When did I start hating random presents? Or when did my Mother start losing her art of buying me presents?
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