(Originally appeared on danieljhogan.com)
Yes, even the kind with bows. Photo by Alvimann on morguefile.com.
[dc]I[/dc] love surprises, which is why I always keep my eyes closed in a voting booth.¹
I really love surprise gifts (unless it is a crying basket on my doorstep. Please, three times is plenty).
In a footnote for I Think My Mother Is Trying to Tell Me Something, I mentioned how my friend Erik sent me a Christmas gift. This was, in fact, a surprise, as Erik lives dozens of miles away in the quaint little town of San Francisco, CA (or KA for you Brad Pitt fans), while I reside in the sprawling metropolis of Lansing, MI.
The gift in question was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film archive. Yes, all four features, including the CGI-animated TMNT.
As to why, in Erik’s own words:
“I look at Christmas as an opportunity to buy for someone something they wouldn’t necessarily purchase for themselves.”
The original TMNT film is something of an inside joke for us (and others within our social circle). We constantly quote the film². When the package showed up in my PO Box, I immediately ripped it open, and was given a rather wide berth by the other Post Office patrons, as I broke into a fit of laughter.
Perhaps the best part was the note inside: “What Russian novel, embracing more than 500 characters takes place during the Napoleonic War? MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
It really is the thought that counts when it comes to gift giving–which has become a constant refrain of Stephanie’s, when she brings up my giving her a cutting board for Valentine’s Day³.
¹ On a related note, I am also a fan of horror films.
² EX: “Cricket? You gotta know what a crumpet is before you can play cricket!,” “Ninja vanish!,” “Wise man say, never pay full price for late pizza,” etc. We were very popular in college.
³ Which should come as no surprise from someone whose father once gave his mother a mop bucket for Christmas.
Daniel J. Hogan thinks he knows what a crumpet is. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.
