Thoughts.com Blogs - The ugly gift aftermath

About 4 years ago we started what we call the "ugly gift".Since we are all grown and there were no small children at the time,we agreed to simplify Christmas gift giving.For me it's more fun to see the family at Christmas,drink a little too much and eat a little too much.

Don't get me wrong I love to give and get presents.The only problem is that it turned into a chore.It seemed we all had less time for anything after Thanksgiving.Besides,since we are all adults we buy what we want or need throughout the year.It's so much more fun to watch the kids opening their gifts then the adults anyway.

The rules were as follows.You couldn't spend anymore than $10.00.We are a total of 3 couples,so each couple bought something ugly for 2 couples.Along with the ugly gifts each couple put $20.00 into the kitty.Whom ever gave the ugliest gift won the money in the kitty.Each couple also picked a charity to make a donation to.You also had to display your ugly gifts at home until the following Christmas.

Our first ugly gift was a fiber optic snow lady head.Its God awful ugly.We named her Mable,we went one step further with her.She has traveled with us.We have pictures of her on the beach in Naples,Florida,Boston,Vermont,Maine and along the turn pike rest stops on the way to Pittsburgh.In fact shes been on display in my living room for almost 4 years.

2 Christmases ago my better hals Mom gave her other son and his wife a metal pink flamingo statue.The daughter in law hated it and refused to take it.Shes a real wet blanket.This is all in the name of fun.Mom had hung on to it.This past Christmas when we were home we decided they were getting that Flamingo once and for all.

We came up with a plan.I had made cinnamon rolls the night before.Tim and I got up early,hes dressed and I'm in my robe and Marge Simpson slippers looking like something the cat dragged in.I wrap up some cinnamon rolls Tim grabs the flamingo and we drive down to his brothers house.I pull up Tim jumps out,runs across the lawn,sets down the flamingo with the package of cinnamon rolls tied around the birds neck rings the door bell and runs.We are laughing like idiots,and make it back to his parents house unseen.

The sister in law says nothing about this.She knows where the bird came from.A couple of days later we come back to find the flamingo sitting infront of the inlaws garage.

A few weeks after Christmas we headed back to Pittsburgh for a concert (a birthday present for me,Patty Griffin tickets)When the brother and sister in law were at work and since my Father in law had a key to their shed we delivered that Flamingo back to them.Its atop of their lawn mower sitting on Easter grass surrounded by plastic Easter eggs.We have a running bet as to when they will see it.Knowing how much the brother in law hates yard work I have my money on July 1st.

I wonder if we'll end up with a package from Pittsburgh sometime this summer?