We need nothing more in our extended family that we don’t already have. The children need no more toys, the teenagers need to get outside more, and we all need to wear out the clothes we already have. Sooooo, as an extension of what I’ve been doing most of this year for the adults in the family, I’m vowing to give something homemade--a poem, a song, a painting, a recording, a box of cookies, a foot massage (I give really good ones) to mark everybody’s birthdays, anniversaries or special days. My friends are getting more of the same. Just so they don’t think I’m cheap or down on my finances, I’m going to spend what I normally would on them, and give them a camel, a goat, a veterinarian aid packet, a cow, or a bicycle. I can get a camel for only $175 at www.oxfam.com and a cow can be had for less than $100. I get to send my birthday girl or boy a neat picture of the animal, or an animated email card and they don‘t even have to take care of it.For the adults in the family I’m going to give a pint of blood to the Red Cross, www.redcross.org or maybe if they’re lucky, I’m going to go play my accordion for hour in the halls of the local nursing home in their honor. For my still teaching friends, I’m going to give them a couple of hours of help in the classroom for their birthday. At Christmas next year the Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org gets the money I would normally spend on greeting cards, and I’ll just send out ecards to most of my friends. I’ll still use snail mail for those who aren’t on line. Here’s a new idea I got from a 65er this year. For all my special friends who are now marking their entrance into the Medicare world at age 65, I’m thinking of sending that amount of money to the Alzheimer’s Foundation www.alzfdn.org .
I might sent some of the grandchildren to a music camp this summer as their birthday present, or if they want to take some music lessons, I’ll provide them a teacher. I wish I could be there myself to teach them, but the miles between us are way too long. I’ve gotten around to writing some of them their own special song, but I’ve still got 3 or 4 who haven’t gotten theirs yet.
I’m wishing to start a trend here. I hope it will catch on totally with my family. Then I hope my resolution will spread to my friends, at least reciprocally with us, and then with their own families. Perhaps you have a few dandy suggestions for the elaboration of this resolution? Do post them here. We can all set a trend, and who knows, it could spread, you know!
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Comments: 13
I'm with you Carol. Few of us need more STUFF.
My son is getting married next fall, and one of the itemes he and his fiance put on their gift registry is a donation to the Wilderness Foundation. Gotta love that, huh?
You are truly an inspiration to all of us. What lovely gift ideas. thanks you for this.