Brace yourself: This is almost as sappy as the sappiest Hallmark card, but here goes:
What's the Best Gift You've Ever Received ...
That Wasn't a "Thing"?
One of the very best gifts I've ever received was a letter from my little brother.
I was in college at the time and my family was on the other side of the country. I was 19 or so, which means my brother was about 13. I still remember pulling the envelope out of my tiny mailbox and seeing his chicken scratch there across the back. I took the letter with me to the dining hall -- got some food and sat by myself to read it.
Long story short: It was a school assignment. His teacher had instructed everyone in the class to write a letter to someone they admired. It was a sweet letter -- not very long. And, because I'm an absolute sap, it almost makes me cry to think of it now. It was close to the holidays, if I remember correctly.
Thirteen year old boys don't write a lot of letters and they don't often take the time to express their feelings -- so it was as if he'd sent me some rare jewel.
It was one of the best gift he's ever given me.
What is the best gift you've ever received that wasn't a thing? Share below in the comments, or send us a note and we'll publish as many stories as we can!
image via Pink Sherbet; Flickr.com
Comments (7)
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my puppy, petey :) it's corny, but he is a gift that keeps on giving. i love him so much, i think about what a great present he was about once a week.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jennorwood/Pups#5280228767362751778
(in his holiday wear)
view jln3681's profile
The "Sex" book by Madonna. I was about 15 when I got it (10 years ago) and it just made my day. At the time I didn't even know it could still be purchased by my friend really scoured for it and got it for me. Big surprise, and still one of my most prized possessions even though I now hate Madge.
view Jeanne Ziegler's profile
My first edition copy of Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. My exboyfriend wrongly assumed it was my favorite book, and although Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author, that is not my favorite per say. the best part was that i hadn't even thought about getting first editions, and now i have started a collection!
view dosergirl's profile
I once received a song and one time a friend gave me a word with a definition. He made it into a little card, and I was very touched by the thought and effort he put into it.
view cristoba's profile
I think the best thing I've recieved that wasn't a thing was tickets to a conference on Conscious Discipline (it's an educational methodology based on brain research, now being used in Head Start programs and many, many public schools around the country). Even though I'm not teaching right now, I still use much of what I learned there, and I would never have been able to scrounge up that kind of money.
view lovelainie's profile
when I was nine I got my dog (a sheltie). She is now no longer with us anymore and every Christmas I think of her. I didn't get her exactly on Christmas because she wasn't old enough to be separated from her mom but I got her two weeks later and counted down the days.
view witchbaby's profile
I would say that one of the most touching gifts was a stocking that I received filled with lots of little cheap things. It was a big deal to me because I had been dating a guy for about a year and a half. His family completely included me in Christmas morning with my own stocking and everything. We dated for a couple more years, and ten years later, it is still one of my biggest regrets, breaking up with him. I wonder what they did with that stocking, though.
view mamaspank's profile