Most Notable Present?

[KeithD]

What was the most notable present you got this Christmas?

My surprise was a china serving bowl, with lid. Not something I needed, but something the family has stewed about for seventy years.

Seventy years ago this year my dad sent a full 12-place-setting of Japanese china back from East Asia where he was probably (not probably: it's recorded in a WEB Griffin novel) the first American to engage in the Korean War--being a U.S. adviser to a South Korean regiment when the North Koreans attacked across the armistice line in June 1950. While on leave in Tokyo, he had the set of china sent back. It arrived intact except for the lid of the serving bowl, which was broken. My mother stewed about that to her death. I inherited the china, and although we have five sets of fine china and are moving into the dispersal phase, Santa at last found and provided what had been broken and disturbed the family for decades.

So, what special gift did you receive?

 

[Blind_Justice]

My wife has thus far tolerated my collection of giant robot toys. This year, she gifted me two new additions to it: re-issues of the 1996 Beast Wars Optimus Primal and Megatron figures. A very sweet gesture since I completely missed out on those guys in the day and I didn't want to pay aftermarket prices for them.

Now all that's left to finish my collection are halfway decent and complete G1 Darkwing and Dreadwing figures.

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Getting my eleven-year-old Kindle replaced with a new one. The old has a cracked case with duct tape holding it together and the battery has has been on its last leg for a while now. I could have bought one, I guess, but I always kept putting it off.

I don't know how many thousands of hours I've logged on this thing in the last decade but it's my go-to entertainment and all I really wanted was a new one. My spouse came through for me, as they so often do.

 

[LoquiSordidaAdMe]

My wife and I graduated from the same university, but in different years. The university changed their mascot design in between. Naturally, I think the version used during my tenure is superior while she prefers the version used while she attended.

For Christmas this year, completely by coincidence, we both got each other the exact same university wall hanging that featured four historic versions of the university mascot that includes our two favorites. It wasn't something we'd seen together or that had been featured in the alumni magazine or on the alumni web site. We were both just browsing the online alumni shop, spotted the wall hanging, and realized it was perfect for us.

She opened mine first and gave absolutely no indication that she knew a duplicate was waiting under the tree. I think "flabbergasted" is probably the best word to describe my reaction when I opened mine.

 

[Agiel]

A photo album

The best present we received this Christmas was a photo album showing the progress of our great grandson for the first year of his life. Which he has just completed. The cover of the album has his picture on it and his name.

 

[KeithD]

The best present we received this Christmas was a photo album showing the progress of our great grandson for the first year of his life. Which he has just completed. The cover of the album has his picture on it and his name.

OK, you win.

 

[_Lynn_]

My cat gave me a hairball. At least it gave me something to do.