poll: what was the best preesent you've received?

[SweetErika]

My husband and I don't do gifts really (we generally go on trips instead), but there was one "best" gift.

It was the most horrendous cake I've ever eaten. I grew up with a tradition of someone making a cake for you on your birthday, and my husband ran with that idea, even though he had no cooking skills. He did, however, know I loved Gingerbread Man Ice cream, but in October, that wasn't available. So, he decided to make his own ice cream cake, lining the pan with chocolate graham crackers ('cause I like chocolate), and mixing crushed gingersnaps in with vanilla ice cream. The ice cream went on top of the graham crackers, and there were layers of soggy gingersnaps in between.

The entire thing was topped off with a thick layer of chocolate frosting (basically, a n entire can on top of an 8x8" pan) and decorations (I think that's what they were ) and "HAppY B-DAY ERikA" in blue icing. Then it was doused with a heavy layer of colorful sprinkles. The candles dripped onto the frosting. It was NOT a delightful flavor combination. However, he put so much time, effort, and thought into it, and looked so proud, I couldn't help but tell him it was absolutely wonderful. And it truly was.

 

[Eilan]

My husband and I don't do gifts really (we generally go on trips instead), but there was one "best" gift.

It was the most horrendous cake I've ever eaten. I grew up with a tradition of someone making a cake for you on your birthday, and my husband ran with that idea, even though he had no cooking skills. He did, however, know I loved Gingerbread Man Ice cream, but in October, that wasn't available. So, he decided to make his own ice cream cake, lining the pan with chocolate graham crackers ('cause I like chocolate), and mixing crushed gingersnaps in with vanilla ice cream. The ice cream went on top of the graham crackers, and there were layers of soggy gingersnaps in between.

The entire thing was topped off with a thick layer of chocolate frosting (basically, a n entire can on top of an 8x8" pan) and decorations (I think that's what they were ) and "HAppY B-DAY ERikA" in blue icing. Then it was doused with a heavy layer of colorful sprinkles. The candles dripped onto the frosting. It was NOT a delightful flavor combination. However, he put so much time, effort, and thought into it, and looked so proud, I couldn't help but tell him it was absolutely wonderful. And it truly was.

Awwwww. . .

What's Gingerbread Man ice cream?

 

[SweetErika]

Awwwww. . .

What's Gingerbread Man ice cream?

Dreyer's (may be Edy's in your neck of the woods) Gingerbread Man Ice Cream

 

[Eilan]

Dreyer's (may be Edy's in your neck of the woods) Gingerbread Man Ice Cream

*nods* I see. Probably is Edy's around here.

 

[Cathleen]

This thread is a gift! Thank you - everyone for sharing, I so needed to read about these wonderful and sometimes funny gifts.

sharingfantasies... just amazing.


I have a few 'best' gifts. One is a ring my mother gave just before I started high school. It was given to her by her mother when my mother entered high school. I cherished that ring so much. It was a little gold bow, with a diamond speckle in the middle. It was just perfect for a young lady.

When my mother died she wanted me to have her diamond ring. She had a few lovely peices of jewelry, and gave each of her five children something. Either to give to their wife or daughter etc. So I had the honor of her diamond (she traded up through the years with jewelry). I wear that ring everyday and very rarely any other jewelry.

When I received her diamond, I took off the little bow ring and kept it. My sister had just had a daughter a year prior to our mom's death and I knew I would give that ring to her someday. My niece turned 14 a few months back and I gave her that ring. I thought I'd cry and cry... but I didn't. I just smile when I see it on her finger and remember the women that came before us and wonder who will wear that ring next. I love generational connections.

Another 'best' is something I received this year. A friend sent me something that hangs on my wall in my bedroom, it is one of the first things I see each morning. It is a needlework that says 'Some people make the world brighter just by being in it.' His mother made it and it hung in his childhood home. He sent it just before his mother passed away - she did make the world a brighter place.

 

[Quoll]

Being the last of eleven kids (btw the rhythm method is not that reliable ) presents were in short supply unless you count hand me downs.
When I was eight or so I got my own bike and I didn't have to ride my brother's 28 inch through the bar anymore. It was just a second hand frame, no wheels, no flash paint job. I spent hours pedalling that frame until we finally got some wheels.
The other present that really left me speechless was a christmas present when I was about the same age, a meccano set, totally new, still in it's box, I was terrified, (what if I lost some of the pieces) and tried to get my oldest brother to take it back, fortunately he didn't, and I still smile when I see them in the shops today.

 

[EJFan]

a meccano set,...

just curious... what is this? is it like an erector set type of lego thing?

 

[Quoll]

just curious... what is this? is it like an erector set type of lego thing?

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/dms/meccano/newzealand/image3.jpg
Pretty much, comes with nuts and bolts, my brother got an alcohol powered steam engine, so between the two of us we were able to make a working steam train.

 

[EJFan]

Pretty much, comes with nuts and bolts, my brother got an alcohol powered steam engine, so between the two of us we were able to make a working steam train.

sweet! i was never any good with that kinda stuff but i always admired those who were and wished i had such inclinations.

isn't it incredible how much more people appreciate (in retrospect at least) the little things when they're longed for and not given just to get some momentary contentment. i'm no parent but i could see how easy and desirous it'd be to spoil a child... but then we'd be denying them these kinds of memories.

 

[h_i_s]

#1 Gift: An email sent straight from heaven above made capable by the angels who own the web site, collarme.com ... which resulted in the gift of trust, respect, honor, & love ... and most importantly, meeting the one i was made for.

#2 Gift: A beautiful and priceless 'necklace' ... on July 3, 2004.

#3 Gift: A beautiful and priceless ring (i forget the date) .. sometime soon after the #2 gift.

#4 Gift: A vow, which began our 'happily ever after' on April 25, 2005.

#5 Gift: A life time of 'happily ever after' moments & memories, which is still in the process of being unwrapped.

 

[Little Bird]

I don't give parties to my birthday since some years now. I have my close friends around me most time and I really have nothing I would wish for a present.
Last Year, at my 20th birthday, or more correct, the evening before my birthday I spend some time with my best friend. I think she rembered that it was my birthday only short before midnight (sometimes I nearly forget it myself, because it's no great thing for me) but exactly at 12:00 she hugged me and gave me kiss (a short one of a friend, but a kiss anyway ) and said happy birthday. I thought it very nice of her but the real present I got back than was that she manged to have most of our friends sendig me messages at midnight, wich i noticed about three hours later when I went to shut my pc down and go for bed.
It was nice she thought about it, but even much more nice to make everybode else think about it.

 

[bobsgirl]

The best gift I ever got from my husband was 2 tickets to a concert and a card offering to be my date. It was so sweet I cried. He hates country music, and here he is giving me tickets to an Alan Jackson concert, ninth row no less, and offering to be my date. It was so romantic. We held hands throughout the whole concert.

The best gift I've ever given myself, even though I didn't know it at the time, was coming to Lit. I've made several good friends who have changed my life. I am so grateful for their friendships every day.

 

[Undomiel]

Well the best thing that comes to mind is the mp3 player my boyfriend gave me last Christmas. I still think he's a bit mad cause it was too expensive and we were only going out a month at the time, but it was also really sweet because he knows how much music means to me and that I had wanted an mp3 player for years. I named the player Philbert and he goes everywhere with me.

Also now that I think of it the one present that made me cry was my now former best friend gave me a locket on my 18th birthday with a modern and an old picture of us in it. We're still friends just not as close now. But it was still a really cool present.

 

[pleasteasme]

surprise flowers on two occasions from a very sweet man

 

[silverwhisper]

sharingfantasies, that was absolutely beautiful. thanks so much for telling that story.

i agree w/ cathleen: there've been some incredible stories here. i think i'm gonna come back to this thread from time to time if i'm feeling down.

ed