Strange Gifts

One of the most intersting part of Christmas morning are the gifts that you know for sure are going back to where they came from.  Today is a day where shoppers aren’t busy buying, but returning and exchanging.  I have a friend who told me he is keeping only one gift that was given to him for Christmas.  With a world broken down into a million niches and tastes becoming more refined, there is going to continue to be longer lines at the return desk.

So what do you do when Uncle Hank or Aunt Sheila buy you that certain gift you don’t want.  Well, as most of us have learned, you grin through your teeth, say thank you, and wait patiently until they offer a receipt if you don’t like it.  Steady now.  Don’t act like a ravenous lion.  Politely accept the receipt, but say you love the gift.  This is really an art. 

I know I’ve had my share or returns over the years.  For whatever strange reason, my Uncle Sal loves neon beer signs and so assumes that the rest of his family would also like a giant neon Miller sign lit up in their garage.  Ok.  I mean, neon NFL signs I can see, but unless you are a bartender, I don’t know why you need a neon Coors Light.  Hmm. Then of course there are the clothes that don’t fit.  There are the kitchen appliances you don’t need or a video game to a system you don’t own.  Priceless.  This year, I did get a sweet piece of jewelry I certainly won’t be returning.  It was custom made, and I love it!  So, every once in a while, there are diamonds in the rough. 

Hope you were able to get a few gifts you wanted, but if not, good luck at the return desk.