| When it comes to great gift ideas, I have about as | | | | yours -- much less given it any serious thought. They're |
| much imagination as a hamster. (If they were | | | | never at a loss for great gift ideas and they can |
| imaginative, hamsters wouldn't run endlessly in those | | | | produce the perfect greeting card at a moment's |
| little wheels). It's odd, really. I'm what you'd call a | | | | notice. You won't catch them dashing out to the |
| "natural" when it comes to shopping. I LOVE to shop. | | | | Quickie Mart for wrapping paper or ribbon; and they |
| Give me an entire day at Filene's Basement and I'm in | | | | have an uncanny knack for finding gifts that are clever, |
| Heaven. | | | | original, and appropriate for any and every occasion. |
| For the uninitiated, Filene's Basement is one of the | | | | Most distressing of all, their gifts are always |
| most famous bargain basements in the United States. | | | | heartwarmingly thoughtful! |
| Lurking beneath Filene's Department store in | | | | I pondered my situation for a long time (years), and |
| Downtown Boston, "The Basement" is a place where | | | | finally I knew what I had to do. My mission was to |
| merchandise is continually marked down and | | | | transform myself into the sort of magician who could |
| competition for the best buys is fierce. There's even a | | | | produce great gift ideas and fabulous gifts at the drop |
| day each Spring when wedding dresses sell so | | | | of a hat. |
| cheaply that scuffles break out in the aisles. | | | | It's been a long and painful journey, but I'm happy to |
| I prefer my shopping nonviolent. But still, the prospect | | | | report a measure of success. Finally, I can look a |
| of a great big store full of unexplored "stuff" is more | | | | gift-giving occasion straight in the eye and say, "Hah!! |
| exciting to me than a giant Easter Egg hunt is to the | | | | You're not so tough!" |
| average five year old. I know I'm going to find Easter | | | | My two most formidable weapons are my "gift closet" |
| Eggs (i.e., "hidden treasures"). I just have to uncover | | | | and my "little black book". The gift closet is stocked |
| their secret little hiding places. That's part of the fun! | | | | with a variety of gift boxes, gift bags, wrapping paper, |
| I have one small problem, though... | | | | tissue paper, and colorful ribbons and bows. There are |
| Shopping is only fun if I'm not looking for anything in | | | | plenty of little gift cards, as well as greeting cards |
| particular. As soon as there's a "list" involved, it starts | | | | ranging from Holiday themes to Sympathy to New |
| to feel like work! Add in the idea that I'm looking for | | | | Baby. Additionally, I've amassed quite an assortment of |
| some very special (yet unspecified) item for someone | | | | gifts-for-any-occasion. Some are purchased with |
| else, and the pressure's really on. If someone says to | | | | people in mind and others because I know they'd be |
| me, "You must go forth and find something for less | | | | perfect for something. |
| than $100 that will make your mother-in-law ecstatically | | | | The "little black book" is just what it sounds like, only it's |
| happy", it stops me cold. I become as helpless as a | | | | not filled with phone numbers. Instead I jot down brief |
| man (Sorry guys!). | | | | notes based on what I learn about people. If someone |
| Gift Shopping. Arrrghh! | | | | mentions a hobby or collection, it goes in the black |
| "What", I ask myself, "is my Mother-in-Law's version of | | | | book. If they hint at something they're just dying to |
| an Easter Egg ?" Where are all those clever gift ideas | | | | have, it goes in the book. If I notice a fondness for a |
| when I need them? Where are they ever? | | | | certain type of jewelry or style of dress, I'll make a |
| Panic sets in. Procrastination comes next. Pretty soon | | | | note of it. Sometimes I even ask leading questions, |
| I've buried the whole thing in my subconscious, hoping it | | | | waiting for a moment when the future "giftee" is |
| will "just go away". It doesn't, of course. Like school | | | | distracted, and therefore unsuspecting. I might even ply |
| exams and work deadlines, gift-giving occasions keep | | | | the giftee's friends for information, admitting only that |
| on coming -- inevitably and way too often. And those | | | | "I'm curious". All of this has turned me into a bit of a |
| great gift ideas remain as elusive as ever. | | | | detective -- a secret agent, if you will. And it's actually |
| So what's a person to do? | | | | kind of fun. |
| My answer was always to get a big pot of coffee | | | | In fact, I think I've found a whole new kind of Easter |
| and pull an all-nighter. | | | | Egg hunt. The hidden treasures are now the little pearls |
| Umm, I mean, I'd wait until the last minute and then shop | | | | of wisdom I pick up by spying on the experts, and the |
| until the stores closed. Sure, I'd manage to come up | | | | tidbits I gather on "giftees" during my covert operations. |
| with a few decent gift ideas and some passable gifts. | | | | Once I've gathered enough "eggs", I'm armed and |
| But it's no way to live. And I always knew I could have | | | | ready. I know exactly where to go and what to do. |
| done better. | | | | So now, when everyone else around me is in a panic |
| I knew things had to change. I knew I had to uncover | | | | over gift ideas for the coming holiday season -- or for |
| the secrets possessed by the expert gift-givers... | | | | tomorrow's office party-- I'm one of the smug ones. It's |
| You know the type. They're the people who smugly | | | | a wonderful feeling. And it sure beats running in that |
| announce that they've been done with their Holiday | | | | little wheel. |
| shopping for weeks, when you haven't even started | | | | |