Nothing nautical for me.
I think my favourite present was a water well. My son bought a water well for a family in Bangladesh and put it in my name.
Makes me very proud of him, and optimistic about future generations.
Wifey B: That's beautiful and speaks well of you and your son. That's why I am infuriated when I hear someone blasting "young people" or "millennials" or any other young age group. I spent Christmas with over 100 of the finest ones I can imagine who, in spite of being orphans themselves, are always thinking of others and of the future.
Then we came home to so many we love so dearly. The first thing we saw was what they'd done decoration wise to our home. Let's just say that hubby gave them an unlimited budget and they likely exceeded it. But then we talked about all they'd done while we were away. Served at soup kitchens, been to homeless shelter, become aware of a family in need and helped them, spent the night in the hospital comforting a victim of abuse and arranging a safe place for her to go and care for her. These were all young girls in their 20's doing these things. They're not our kids but we sure wish we could claim them all and we love them as if they were.
Today is our Christmas Day in Florida. Huge group, but it's not about presents. Oh the girls bought small gifts for each other and exchanged and went in together for one gift for us, as we discourage gifts for us. The only one who got lots of gifts and truly spoiled is my niece, Aurora, and I'll always spoil her. I know a four year old doesn't need designer clothes but neither does her aunt. Oh but this is the same girl who spent Christmas Day with us at the orphanage and who wanted to make sure her "cousin" here got good gifts, a cousin only by declaration of the two but one she'll let wear or use anything she owns. We did privately give special gifts to some of the others. We bought a couple of small things for each other and one large gift together, something for our home.
The greatest gift by far though was having the extended family together. This is from the two of us who have no contact with anyone from our birth families. And on top of that gift was knowing the wonderful things these young girls and older adults too did over the holidays. Just them all understanding that Christmas at our home comes the weekend after because we must always spend Christmas at the orphanage.
I love the gift giving of your son to you. I think so many of today's young people understand the spirit of the holiday so much better than our generations. I'm so happy they let me join in their fun and feel like I'm still 21 and one of them. They're sure thinking far more of others than I did at their age. AusCan's post made me feel the real spirit of the holiday.
