Thursday, January 10, 2008

The joy of giving

I'm heading north to my home state this morning, bringing my Dad the receipt for his Christmas present so he can return it. He returns all presents; it's gotten to be a bit of a family joke. Many years, if he can swing it, he sends you out at the end of the day with the same gift you came bearing that morning. One of my brothers has a collection of crock pots and super-massage shower heads that I think he just wraps up on rotation for odd and even years. Last year I thought I was in good shape with a biography of the New England Patriot's football coach, but Dad not only returned it to Borders where I bought it, he didn't know I'd used a 40% discount coupon, so he returned it for a profit. Hysterical.

This year as I was shopping, I kept this in mind. So, in addition to the gigantic remote control I found with super-sized buttons for folks in their senior years (for which I'll be driving 100 miles at $3.11 a gallon to bring him the $9.99 receipt), I got him a gift card to his favorite store: the grocery store. That, he's not returning.

As far as holiday victories go, I'll take it :)

9 comments:

L Sass said...

That's hilarious! I think hard-to-please dads are kind of unusual.

I think half of the stuff I get my dad doesn't go over so well, but he always pretends to love it and then lets it gather dust at home.

Susie said...

Hehe that's kind of cute. My dad is soo the opposite. He felt sooooo bad he had to tell me the shirt I got him this year didn't fit.

How could he not love the giant remote?!?!

Dawn said...

Trish,
My grandpa got the same remote control for Christmas from one of my uncles!
-Dawn

www.gripejuice.blogspot.com

Sarakastic said...

I have people like that in my family, but once they start telling you exactly what they want & then they return that gift, it just is annoying

Michelle and the City said...

i'd just mail him the $10! lol

Larramie said...

Hmm, by giving your dad a gift and having him return it is akin to a double gift for he obviously enjoys the exchange process. ;)

Also, Trish, don't know if you saw my comment the other day, but I tagged you for a meme on my Wednesday post.

LEstes65 said...

My dad turned 80 last Oct 1st. He's been needing a walker and not wanting to get it due to the price. Or so he said. When my mom, sister & I presented him with a broshure for one we had picked for him? It was like giving a giant bucket of brussel sprouts to a 7 yr old on Christmas morning. Needless to say, we ended up getting him a new chair for his computer desk.

Oh...and that walker he's been refusing to get? Yah, he got one. The same one I had printed out for him! Sneaky old man!

Holly Kennedy said...

Trish, this is so cute!
What a fun post. Your dad sounds uniquely individual in his own right; you have to give him that.

I've given up with my dad. Now I buy him a $100 lottery ticket on a house or a bunch of cars every Christmas and he's thrilled.

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

hilarious yes and a bit sad for you considering you thought very hard about his gift. MY Motherinlaw is life this ... she returned the item to us - or worse she re gifts items.