Gifts That Last A Lifetime

Cara/Andrea here,

We're coming to the end of our 12 Days of Christmas musings, and as we all pack up the decorations and resolve to lose the weight we’ve gained from all the scrumptious holiday goodies, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on some of the gifts—both past and present—that will last far longer than a a few weeks.

I finally moved into the 21st century of book technology—one of my presents this season was a Kindle. Now, I had held off getting one for the longest time, as I love the tactile feel of ink and paper. I still do, but for travel I think it’s going to be very cool. I’ve already downloaded a lot of classics from Amazon that I’ve been meaning to read over the years, and now I have them at my fingertips! I have to go into NYC on the train tomorrow, and instead of lugging one or two heavy books in my purse, I can now slip the featherlight e-reader into it and have lots of space left over. So change is good! (And hey, anything that encourages people to read is a winner in my book.)

So, I’m very thankful that I got a gift that enriches my life. But it also got me to thinking about what was my favorite gift of all time. Hmmm. A hard question, but the more I mulled it over, the more I came to the conclusion that it was the cowboy outfit I got when I was 4 years old.

Now, you are probably asking why. Well, it’s because it started me making up stories and taught me the magic of make-believe. I would dress up in that outfit and be lost for hours in my own little world . . . it even inspired me to write my first book—a story on horses in the Wild West.

That gift has lasted a lifetime, and made me appreciate the power of the imagination. No high tech gizmos, no flashy touch screens or streaming video . . . just a few pieces of cotton and a pair of leather boots got my mind off and running.

What about you? Do you have a memorable holiday gift from the past? Or did you get a gift this season that made your heart sing?

Comments

[Anne Gracie]

Cara/Andrea, I love that cowgirl outfit, and how wonderful that it inspired a book!

You know, I think a theme has been emerging in the various Christmastide conversations we've had on word wenches — that special presents that take into account the personality of the particular child, can have a wonderful effect.

[Andrea Penrose]

You're so right, Anne. A well-chosen gift that encourages a child to let the imagination take flight is something truly special.

[Theresa N]

I think the gifts people made for me are always my favorite and stand the test of time, there usually still here.

[Virginia C]

I didn't have a sister, but I had Mom. I think that at times, Mom lived her childhood all over again through me. I had a pink training bike for my first bicycle. Mom taught me to ride. I vividly remember that day! She ran along beside me as I rode back and forth until she was sure that I was okay on my own. Mom loved to ride bikes (horses too). She was very artistic and theatrical, and she studied tap, ballet, music, and art. She was also double-jointed and somewhat accident-prone, but I will save those stories for another day. I outgrew "Little Pinkie", and I soon set my eyes on a full-sized, royal blue beauty from our local hardware store. "The Western Flyer"--complete with front basket, double back basket, headlight, and horn! When I came downstairs on Christmas morning and saw "Big Blue" in the living room, you can bet my squeals woke everybody up! I was a chubby kid, but I was always tall for my age, and I had long, strong legs. Nobody out rode me and "Big Blue"--nobody! I have lived in Virginia all but two years of my life. We lived in Nevada at the time that I started the first grade, and that is where Mom taught me to ride "Little Pinkie". We moved back to Virginia, and I got "Big Blue", and then we lived in Florida the year that I was in the fifth grade. Riding our bikes together was one of the few real compatible and happy times between Mom and me. Florida is where we reached the zenith of our riding. We would ride together for hours, late at night, under the street lights of our very nice, quiet neighborhood. Looking back, it was remarkable that no one ever commented on our nightly bike antics. Mom and I not only rode our bikes, we performed on them! Yes, we virtually danced with our bikes. Amazing! So much fun, so much energy--nothing else ever compared to that time. I still have "Big Blue", and she still looks good. I haven't ridden her in a very long time, but she's waiting....and remembering.

[Andrea Penrose]

Virginia C, what a beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing. I love that you still have "Big Blue" and that it hold so many wonderful memries for you. I think maybe you need to take it out for a spin!

[Andrea Penrose]

Handmade gifts are so meaningful, Theresa. They can be simple or silly things, but the thought behind them, or the memories they conjure of special moments with family or friends can't be bought!

[eli yanti]

Hi Cara,

i think i love and really appreciate all gift i got from my holiday and other gift but the gift i love the most is when my friend can give the one i really love it and that is a pile of book and chocolate ;)

[Diane]

I have been fortunate in receiving wonderful gifts which are special. The best one that I treasure is an apron. I reminds me of cooking and baking with my grandmother which was very meaningful.

[Pearl]

This post is beautiful as is the photo. Western outfits were so popular when I was growing up, especially the shirts, boots and cute hat. A gift I cherished was my first bicycle, a dark blue Raleigh bike ordered from Eaton's which I rode endelessly around the neighborhood and far areas all summer long for years.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Wonderful stories from you and others, Andrea! I don't remember anything that stacks up with "Big Blue," but I did have something in someways comparable with your cowboy outfit: A kid version book of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table.

Looking back, I realized that it was VERY sanitized! But I loved the tales of magic and adventure and honor, and I read and reread the stories. I've been reading--and writing--stories of adventure and honor and magic ever since.

[Diane Sallans]

Several years ago my nephews & niece started giving their mother and me a calendar with their own photos in it. I look forward to that every year - to see which photos they used. I put it on my fridge and it's like a new gift every month when I turn to the next page.

[wendy p]

My most favorite gift was from my son a few years ago, he was in college and didnt have much money. He was taking a photography course at school and he took a photograph of my spoiled rotten cat that was absolutely amazing and framed it in a cheap walmart frame, but it proudly hangs on the wall as one of my most treasured possessions!

[Andrea Penrose]

Books and chocolate—that would make me very happy too, Eli!

[Andrea Penrose]

Diane, how lovely that you have something that "ties" you to such fond memories. I have a really battered old "The Joy of Cooking" that my grandmother gave to my mother when she got married, and then was passed to me. It's falling apart, but the inscription inside is something I'll always treasure.

[Andrea Penrose]

Mary Jo, King Arthur was a childhood favorite of mine too. (Though sanitized, it still had the magic of noble honor, valiant quests and strong heroes. And yes, I still love to be transported to those make-believe worlds.

[Andrea Penrose]

Wendy and Diane, the photos sound adorable. The fact that they thought about what would please you and then created it themselves really is a gift of love!

[theo]

I think my Thumbelina doll was my most memorable gift, not only because I still have her and still have the wooden key used to wind her, but because we were very poor when I was growing up and that was such a special gift from Santa. Of course, I knew it was my parents, but it was very dear to buy and to this day, she sits on my bed in a dress both of my girls wore their first Easter.

And though I too am a totally tactile girl when it comes to books, I sold my Nook Color in December and my DH bought me the new Nook Tablet for Christmas. I traveled with the NC in October and it did everything my laptop did at a fraction of the weight, plus I carried it into all the workshops I attended and took notes on it. I watched movies on the plane and had a hundred books to choose from. I can't imagine trying to lug all that stuff without it, so yes, I'm moving, albeit still kicking and screaming at times, into the 21st century ;o)

[Andrea Penrose]

Another wonderful story! Thanks for sharing, Theo.

Haven't done the tablet yet, even though a lot of my friends have i-pads and they seem pretty cool. Weight is a real issue with a laptop, and the tablets are SO light. But I don't want to become too much of a gadget person. I worry that they can tale over your life and eat up precious time. So will continue to move slowly.

[Nancy]

when I was eight I received a book of stories for Christmas. I had not been brought up in a reading household and thought books were only found in school. That book started me on a lifetime of reading.

[Andrea Penrose]

Nancy, that's a wonderful gift, indeed!

[Susan]

On gift that stands out in my mind is two Robert Heinlein books when I was 13. I didn't know about Science Fiction much at the time, and those books expanded my mind. When I finished them those, I found every other Heinlein in our school library, and I went on from there.

I was already a reader, but I was still sort of stuck in the children's section. Those books really made me grow with my reading. Mom loved science fiction and she helped me discover it as well.