Every year since I was 7? 8?, for EVERY gift-giving occasion (birthdays, Easter, Christmas, just-felt-like-it-day), I have gotten the same thing from my family/relatives.
Mother's Side:
A bag of socks, a calendar (usually of something I loathe, like Anne Geddies or "Toasters of the World"), a card (sometimes it's signed!), a movie of a genre I don't like (since WHEN have I *ever* expressed an interest in French, un-subtitled, musicals?), a book in a genre I don't read (Oh look, "Gardening for Dummies!"), and/or a 5Lb bag of pistachios (diabetic, can't eat that much protein, thanks).
Father's Side:
A card & Russell Stover's "Sugar Free" candy.
This would be nice except that little warning "excessive consumption may cause laxative effect in sensitive people"?
Not only applies to me, but "excessive consumption" in my case means *one piece*.
I eat one, I spend the next two hours sitting in the bathroom losing a few pounds to the white porcelain throne. =(
I've asked for gift certificates, I've asked for specific movies/books/gifts, and it never matters.
I could send my "Things I'd Like For Gifts" list out *right now*, and update it every week between now and Armageddon, and it'd never make a difference.
My friends, OTOH, when they get me things, get me stuff that makes me all warm, fuzzy, and child-like-squealy-glee.
But my own family hasn't bothered to get me anything worth reselling on eBay since I was a child.
(And people wonder why I tend to loathe the holidays?)
So (raising his tankard of Diet Pepsi) welcome to the club.
=J
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