My mother always loves the gifts I get her for whatever holiday or event it is. I think the only time she’s ever been disappointed was that one year when I was a little kid and I forgot about her birthday, but in my defense I was little and I blame my Dad for not reminding me about it and taking me shopping; after all, an elementary school-aged child cannot be expected to manage to get to the mall and buy a present on her own. I gave her handmade coupons that year and she was not impressed.
Anyway, I’ve always worked very hard to think of something thoughtful for my mother, something that fits in her interests but isn’t tacky. One year I bought her a Mexican clay umbrella holder for her birthday, knowing full well that I was buying her a Chimenea for Mother’s Day because I knew that my parents were looking at buying a house in New Mexico or Arizona. One year, because she loves unicorns, I stayed up all night on Christmas Eve to finish cross-stitching a huge unicorn to give her; gave myself tendinitis. I’ve made original stained glass art for her, filled her kitchen with ceramic chili pepper kitchen-things, and found a book on the American Red Cross that actually mentioned one of her friends.
Do you know how hard it is to top yourself present after present? Oh, sure, she says she’ll love anything I get her, but I know I have to find something at least as good as that last one. Oy.
So today I had an inspired thought. My mother is big into American Red Cross since she worked for them for so long and did disaster recovery and all. She collects the little pins and once she had a Snoopy cartoon matted and framed where he’s the pilot flying against the Red Baron and he mentions the Red Cross. So, I thought it would be very cool to find some vintage American Red Cross postcards and have them matted and framed. I found three really nice black and white ones on eBay and bought them. Now when I get them, I’ll take them to a frame shop and have them arranged nicely for her.
Plus, I ordered a diary of a Red Cross nurse working in Belgium during WWI to include with my gift.
I feel so relieved to have a plan.
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What a thoughtful gift.
Not only a plan, but an excellent idea! I should think of the things that make my mom unique and then have you find a gift! Just kidding.