We normally give some toys or other play things for the birthday of a child  along with our blessings and love.  You would  yourself float in cloud 9 at seeing the broad smile on the little fellow’s face when he opens the  package.

Whereas, a gift for an adult, in my opinion, has no such sentiments attached to it.  Even Google doesn’t have appropriate photographs for adults’ birthdays.

Next, a gift of any kind to a mere adult  acquaintances or office colleagues  amounts to a sort of mortgage because you want it  back on  a similar occasion  some  days later. This is your motive of handing over a gift to the grown ups.  True or not.

What  type of gift are you expected to give  to the concerned person,   be it a return type or original variety. It’s absolutely normal to give on  the  wedding day  some  special kitchen item or a decorative piece etc  for starting a new  home. But, is any  type of hardware gift  necessary on any  other special days?

Any birthday bash is a time  for a get together of all friends and neighbours  for a pow  wow because you may not be able to collect all of them on any other excuse. But you need not take any present   with you then.  And yet, people carry a packet as if that giveaway is  an entrance ticket for the party.

We need to stop this habit, don’t you  agree?

I remember one gentleman very clearly stated in the wedding invitation of his brother, “Please no presents, only your presence..”  He may have been under a misgiving  that  many invitees  may not turn up for the wedding because of their inability to give a  gift.

I am afraid, I too was a victim of this kind of situation. I was a little tight for money at that time and gave some cock and bull story for not attending the friend’s daughter’s wedding.

Once a grandma was very thrilled to receive a gift from her grand son on her 80^th birthday.  Normally grandmothers at that age don’t celebrate  birthdays at all.  Nor did this one. For that matter, she didn’t even remember today was her  birthday. And she was so enamoured by this gesture  that  she caught hold of the 5 year old grandson and planted dozens of kisses on his cheeks and forehead.

There’s a small story behind this  ‘grandma’s gift’,  The little master of  5 years  ticked off everyone one in  the family for neglecting grandma and in particular her birthday.  Saying that she too is a woman and we should honour her, he collected contribution from every member for buying a  present for grandma.

“Hey, how much did you collect?” asked his elder brother and the real  brain behind the idea. “Two hundred.”

The youngster purchased a high profile football for grandma. The white haired lady greeted him with tears of  joy  “How very thoughtful of you, my precious child,”  she blabbered happily.    “Grandma, are you going to play football with it?”  “No, how can I?” she replied promptly.  “In that case, could I use it?” and he was off to the play ground with his own gift.

I too was a prey once  of this trickery.  For my 35^th birthday, my elder son gave me a  colourful  tie.  “Thank you, son.  Very kind of you.  But .. but …”  I didn’t know how to convey my disappointment.  “But, this tie is a little too loud for me, isn’t it?” I remarked.  “Yes, I know, dad.  Could I then use it for myself?” said the 10 year old son.  He had collected money from his mother for my birthday gift!

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