Christmas Gifts You Love (to Hate) :: essays research papers

Christmas Gifts You Love (to Hate)Zack ImusChristmas. The most exciting and anticipated holiday of the year. A timewhen visions of sugar plums--or stereos, new cars, the latest computer, andvarious other desirable and expensive gifts--dance through our heads.Unfortunately the reality of Christmas gift-giving is often a far squall from ourvisions.When were children, it seems as the holidays approach that anything ispossible. But as we mature and gain experience with this annual observance iteventually begins to dawn on us that it king not always be all its cracked upto be. By the time weve reached our late teens--when, coincidentally, thepotential for receiving truly outstanding gifts is optimized--we realize thatChristmas gifts are seldom what we apply for. In fact, from year to year itbecomes possible to actually predict the kinds of gifts youll unwrap onChristmas morning. Lets look at a few examples.The Necessity GiftThe compulsion gift is one that always seems like a really g reat idea toyour mother or grandmother, but which is invariably a big breathe to unwrap. Letsbe realistic, how excited is anybody likely to get over a dozen pairs ofmatching socks, a hairbrush, winter gloves or underwear? Slipper Sox, new cruisesets and toothbrushes also qualify. After unwrapping such a gift, a person islikely to exclaim "Gosh, you shouldnt have" And mean it.The Token GiftThe Token Gift might be received from almost anyone. Though it seems likean intimate friend or close relative wouldnt stoop so low, experience provesthat token gifts put on up where imagination and/or money leaves off. So itspossible to receive these kinds of gifts from the most unexpected sources.One present in this category is the ever favorite "soap-on-a-rope." Ivenever seen these marketed in June. But come early November the soap factoriesundoubtedly pay double-double overtime to their workers in order to meet thevast holiday collect for nameless, pungent-smelling brown soa p manufactured overthe top of what appears to be a six-foot-long shoe-string. A note of cautionSoap-on-a-rope should never be given to boys under the come on of 12. Theyinvariably turn them into near-lethal weapons. If disappointed enough, theymight even turn them on you.Other token gifts include cheap aftershave lotion/cologne, stationery, andthe ever-popular electric shaver. Though this latter(prenominal) might occasionally fit intothe Necessity Gift category, Ive never met anyone who actually uses an electricshaver. For this reason, this gift might also fit into our next category.The Closet taxidermist GiftCloset Stuffers are exactly what they sound like gifts that are stuffed