I love giving gifts.
I like searching for them, and finding something that might be not a first necessity (however, I usually try to ask if there is anything a particular person needs or wants beforehand), but will make people smile when they unwrap. I love handmade and unique items. And I usually shop with a person I shop for in mind, trying to find something that speaks to our relations.
So you can tell that for me gift shopping is a big deal. It takes time, energy and imagination. And often, if I don't have a particular idea in mind, I just stop by the stores I like, looking for something that can direct or inspire me to later grow that spark into a personal gift.
This year, I guess due to everything happening around the world, for me shopping turned into a special delight. I think it started in August when I got to drive to get gifts for people I know.
I made a package for my friend and her family that live in South Korea and shipped it there just for the sake of it. They don't even know it's coming. It took me about a month to come up with something that would be special for each one of the five family members, and I loved that time.
Since then every birthday was like my own holiday. I used every opportunity to put a part of my soul and share all my best thoughts and wishes with others through gifts.Â
That itch I got back in summer lasted all the way through until now, when all of a sudden I hit the wall. That happened when I started putting all the energy flows together to get something for my husband, and pretty quickly realized that it was a mission impossible type of story.
Seriously, what do you ladies give to your special men? I think I've been to every single store in town. From Walmart, Peavey Mart and Canadian Tire, to Wood Country, Kendall's and McComb, from the General Store and A&A Jewellery, to Mark’s and The Brick, from House of Stationery to Southern Bolt Supply. I came to the task very open-minded, and so far I made it out with a heavy heart and almost empty hands.
Husband also is not much help. "I want nothing," he keeps saying every time it comes to any kind of holiday. What he doesn't get, is giving gifts is part of me. I want to get him something because that's my way of showing that I care, not because I have to or because he needs something. But I realized that I don't know how to shop for my man and for men in general.
If they need tools, they usually get them when they need them. If their clothes go bad, they just restock them. If they are using any accessorizes, in most cases, they need one or two at the most. If they have any hobbies, they are so eager about them, that they can't wait until the holidays to get something they want.
On the other hand, many men's gifts are one time purchases. If it's for your special man, you usually try to buy the best thing you can at the time. So when it comes to giving him a wallet, watch or even a razor or a trimmer, you know that for the next few years, these options are off the table.
Besides, if you check out gift compartments (that's supposed to help you out by supplying endless great ideas), you realize that about 90 per cent of stuff there is for women. So when my male friends complain about how difficult it is to shop for girls, I can't resist but roll my eyes. The amount of options for us is endless. I don't think there are too many women who'd say, "No, don't give me perfume because I already have one." I have six, and there are another five that I wouldn't mind having.
Before the pandemic, the emotions and experiences were my saviours when it came to my husband's gifts. We would travel or do something, and that was amazing. So with eating out once in a while already being a part of our routine, and most types of other entertainment being shut down, there was not much I could come up with in that field this year.
After four weeks of searching and generating ideas, so far I came up with one gift, which is also the most trivial gift for a man. I got him socks. Very expensive socks, which are made of alpaca wool and which are supposed to be the warmest there are. He always struggles in winter, so I guess it's still personal. (And I'm pretty sure that he won't read my column, that's why I'm writing it. So if you talk to him, shhh, it's still a big surprise). But seriously, socks, that's all I got!
So if you have any great ideas or know some magic place on Earth that has the best gifts for your man, please, give me the address, because I'm just about at the end of my rope. And if that place is in Estevan, I'll owe you a gift too.
