What did you give?

[sweetfrancaise]

This young lady came to live with us her senior year in high school. Her father was/is a convicted child molester and her mother is a complete nut case. No need to say the kids in this train wreck didn't have a pleasant life.

She is now a senior in college and ours is her home of choice. No, I'm not her father but I try to be the Dad she never had. I only wish I was better at it.

...

Every year, when I'm asked what I want for Christmas, I have the same answer. I'd like for every child on God's green earth to have a bed, a warm meal, a roof over their head, someone to love, cherish, and protect them, and a peaceful future.

I'm glad to hear she found comfort and protection with you. I saw cousins for the first time in years last night--their mothers, my aunts, are too wacked-out to care for them any longer (drugs, alcohol, jail) so their respective fathers have custody. In their try to develop a solid, normal life for them, they have kept them all away from their mothers, and in effect, cut off contact with this side of their family to keep the kids stable. They were kind enough to bring them over to my grandparent's house last night so we could see them--not exactly a fairytale ending, but it was a thrill to see them all growing up, taken care of, and happy for the first time in their lives. We now have numbers to call them, so we can see them all without the damaging influence of their mothers.

 

[Diamondback]

Amen to the lovely young lady from Valencia's words. I've similarly had the benefit of a "stand-in parent"--although in my case it was one of my profs while in college. I believe I can speak from experience in for those of us who've benefited from having such individuals in our lives, you're more appreciated than we can ever communicate. Good on you, Carter.

As for what'd I give? Manual labor, schlepping my relatives' ridiculously-heavy suitcases around the airports on the way down here, and will again on the way back.

 

[Boris K]

.

My girlfriend's stepmom is 82 and not doing too well lately. She has painful spinal condition, and she's had some ministrokes, which have given her aphasia: she can't complete a sentence because the words just won't come. Very frustrating for her. So I decided she might enjoy a Christmas stocking. I got a nice stocking in the store with penguins all over it, and a bunch of inexpensive stocking stuffers. We gave it to her yesterday afternoon and she was delighted. It was the highlight of my holiday.
So, as a companion to the "What did you get?" thread, what did you GIVE this holiday season that was a big hit with the recipient?

Pretty nice, Dan, and a nice post - thank you.

I gave the usual presents and hosted my parent and in-laws for 4 days. All were happy.

Happy New Year everyone

 

[RedHotRidinHood]

This young lady came to live with us her senior year in high school. Her father was/is a convicted child molester and her mother is a complete nut case. No need to say the kids in this train wreck didn't have a pleasant life.

She is now a senior in college and ours is her home of choice. No, I'm not her father but I try to be the Dad she never had. I only wish I was better at it.

She and her two brothers went to court in early December to testify against their father. He received another prison sentence. This time he got ten years. Her mother? She has a husband who has spent most of his life incarcerated and has completely alienated her children. For her I feel pity.

Every year, when I'm asked what I want for Christmas, I have the same answer. I'd like for every child on God's green earth to have a bed, a warm meal, a roof over their head, someone to love, cherish, and protect them, and a peaceful future.

Beyond that, way beyond that, music from the 20's and 30's.

Rock on, Carter-good for you! Sounds like you saved her from going down a very bad road. The world needs more people like you.

 

[Barbigirl]

I made Nathaniel a black and gold brocade smoking jacket. He seemed really pleased with it. Both of his sisters sew but he said no one has ever made his anything for a gift so that was special.

 

[Spitfire]

My father - who is now 87 yeras of age - has always been a writer and a reader, but during the last couple of years his eyesight has gone down the hill. So much as he first lost his driverslicens, later stopped reading newspapers and books. TV is also hard for him to follow.
I have talked with him several times about books on CDs - but he wouldn't hear about it. "It's for old, blind peolple" he said.

This Christmas my wife and I decided to give him one anyway.
First he was sceptic - but he's just called me, and told me what a fantastic book he was "reading".
And that he had talked with the local library about getting some more.
It must be the best gift I gave.

 

[scotrace]

I gave my Misses her first vintage thing. A big hit and she wore them all Christmas day.

 

[BJBAmerica]

This young lady came to live with us her senior year in high school. Her father was/is a convicted child molester and her mother is a complete nut case. No need to say the kids in this train wreck didn't have a pleasant life.

She is now a senior in college and ours is her home of choice. No, I'm not her father but I try to be the Dad she never had. I only wish I was better at it.

She and her two brothers went to court in early December to testify against their father. He received another prison sentence. This time he got ten years. Her mother? She has a husband who has spent most of his life incarcerated and has completely alienated her children. For her I feel pity.

Every year, when I'm asked what I want for Christmas, I have the same answer. I'd like for every child on God's green earth to have a bed, a warm meal, a roof over their head, someone to love, cherish, and protect them, and a peaceful future.

Beyond that, way beyond that, music from the 20's and 30's.

My "Hat's Off" to you....You have truly shown what the spirit of Christmas is, and not just during the Holiday Season either.

God Bless!

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Nice thread.
My roommate Patrick loves his cream dinner jacket I made him.

 

[$ally]

Good on you, Carter. That's what it's all about.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

I made Nathaniel a black and gold brocade smoking jacket. He seemed really pleased with it. Both of his sisters sew but he said no one has ever made his anything for a gift so that was special.

Nice to see a picture! It looks beautiful. Good job, Barbigirl.

 

[Lincsong]

My nephew played with his Wild West Gun Slinger target game all day. My two nieces got scooters from Uncle Linc-ie

 

[Nashoba]

I gave my husband a WWII Army dress uniform that was put into my hands by one of our loungers...he chuckled and said, it's nice but what am I supposed to do with it? Does it even fit me? (it does)

I told him it was for the next time he found himself transported back in time and threw his next present at him. Which was a package of new hankerchiefs which he's also never carried....see my idea is to slowly introduce the vintage apparel to him...not force it on him but show him how practical some of it can be and how good he looks in it....maybe it will grow on him...or at the very least he'll have more stuff to chuckle at me for...he made the comment that he has a vintage wife and he's perfectly happy with that...I told him he should rethink the way that comment sounded...

 

[$ally]

he made the comment that he has a vintage wife and he's perfectly happy with that...I told him he should rethink the way that comment sounded...

lol

 

[John in Covina]

For the most part i like to give Gift Card / Certificates to my brothers in-laws. This time it was Sears. To the younger ones it is cash. I figure that I don't really know what they want and don't have so the cash or equivilant will allow them the choice. One couple I gave a Hornitos bottle that came with a branded lime squeezer and a copy of "red harvest" by Dashiell Hammett. I have a couple of hair brushes coming from Kent in England also one for me and one for my buddy.

 

[Miss Brill]

I gave my Misses her first vintage thing. A big hit and she wore them all Christmas day.

I love vintage boots. Those are splendid! :eusa_clap

 

[J.S.Udontknowme]

he made the comment that he has a vintage wife and he's perfectly happy with that...I told him he should rethink the way that comment sounded...

Some of us do have vintage wives, mine will be 55 next month.lol

 

[Mid-fogey]

Now Nate needs...

I made Nathaniel a black and gold brocade smoking jacket. He seemed really pleased with it. Both of his sisters sew but he said no one has ever made his anything for a gift so that was special.

...a seegar. Or at least a pipe.

 

[Marlowe P.]

I gave my Misses her first vintage thing. A big hit and she wore them all Christmas day.

Those are great.
This year I was a bit broker than I wanted to be, which sometimes works out well. I got my friend a vintage cigarette case and got "Poetry, even when apparently most fantastic, is always a revolt against artifice, a revolt, in a sense, against actuality. - James Joyce" inscribed inside then filled it with Nat Sherman Classic Cigarettes... A small bottle of Knob Creek for my buddy and a bottle of Argyle wine from here in OR for his wife. I thought I did pretty good this year

 

[Nashoba]

Some of us do have vintage wives, mine will be 55 next month.lol

lol, yeah but I'm 28