The holidays are now upon us, which means the season of exchanging of gifts. So our question today is twofold:
First (and let’s assume for both of these questions that money and realism are utterly irrelevant), what gift would you most want to receive? (Selfishness is totally okay for this one!)
And second, what gift would you most want to give (and to whom)?
Lisa Q. Mathews
Gosh, you’d think these questions would be easy, sigh. Since selfishness is okay here, I would like a pair of non-mortgaged domiciles: one near a Northeast ocean (not on the ocean, that’s a pain, but near it) and a charming Brooklyn brownstone. Both of these very reasonable homes would come with AI bots who do NOT write or try to think for you, but concentrate on their sole jobs: cleaning, party catering, laundry, cooking, closets, etc. while I tap away on a classic typewriter.
And gifting? I’d like to present each baby born in the US a beautifully written and illustrated, all-inclusive true-history book that can never be revised. Oh, and I would also love to take my family and friends on amazing trips to destinations around the world, sparing no expense. Now that would be easy, right?
Ellen Byron
Hmmmm… after giving this a lot of thought, I’ve decided that what I’d most like to receive is an apartment in New Orleans, possibly on the Mardi Gras Parade route so I could watch and catch throws from our very own balcony. I’d also like a private plane to take me and the fam there so we can bring our pooch Cammie in the most comfortable way possible – because, really, isn’t it all about her?
I’m going to share two things I’d most like to give. 1) A home for every animal in a shelter or at a rescue. 2) Perfect, glowing health for our daughter.
Marla Cooper
Okay, if we’re going to go materialistic, I would like the entire contents of the New York Public Library gift store. But as long as we’re dreaming big, let’s go with something a little harder to find: I would like a personal assistant who can read my mind. I have trouble delegating, because I know no one will do it the way I would do it. So this psychic PA would come and be my project manager, declutter my house, surface the forgotten projects that would bring me the most joy, and know when I need a cup of cocoa to keep me going!
As far as what I would like to gift: Your choice of a new kitten, a book contract, the exact book you need to read showing up at the exact right time, or that secret thing that you wish someone would give you but nobody knows about.
Cynthia Kuhn
To get: Two knees, please! Has been a very painful autumn of surgery, and I’m ready to get back to normal. Go for long walks again! Or even just walk across the room without wobbling and lurching unexpectedly.
To give: I wish I could send everyone a surprise check to use for whatever you want! And I would also attempt to fashion some sort of handmade item so you have something to laugh at too because I am really not good at crafts. Sorry in advance for your oddly shaped gift. #madewithlove
Leslie Karst
Truly, more than health, longevity, and all the other things so many folks desire, the gift that this food-loving gal would most love to receive would be the ability to eat whatever I wish without gaining weight. But if you want to hear about an actual tangible gift I’d love to get, then I suppose it would be an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris—where I would, of course, gorge on cheese, pastries, steak Béarnaise, baguettes, and crème brulée. But I’d walk it all off by wandering miles around the fabulous City of Lights.
As for what I’d give? Well, world peace is rather clichéd (and so unrealistic that, even ignoring realism, still seems too far-fetched). So I’m going to go with this gift to all the people of the globe: The ability to truly listen to opinions other than their own and be able to have rational and polite dialogue about those differing views.
Jennifer Chow
I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of gift suggestions because of holiday parties, secret santa exchanges, and family gatherings. A random tool I found that looked neat to me was an etching pen; here’s one from Michaels, but there are loads of them. What I would really like to receive, though, is a week-long vacay at an all-inclusive resort, preferably near a body of water, to just escape.
A cool gift (while perusing possibilities for teens) that I noticed was this transformable fidget pen. I must have a thing for pens! 😊 What I’d truly like to give the next generation is wisdom and boldness. And to us all, a special and lasting gift of PEACE.
Patricia Sargeant
Like Lisa, I thought this question would be easier but…It’s not. Ha! I’m going way out there on a limb. Here it goes. To receive, I’d like the Time-Turner from the Harry Potter series. I must have the worst time-management skills on the planet. LOL! To gift, I’d love to give everyone One Magical Day during the holiday season to spend in a favorite memory. Happy holidays, my friends! I hope you’re able to create more happy memories this season.
Readers:what giftswould you want to receive, and what would you want to give to someone else?
Chicks on the Case 