Sophs journal # 3--The Gift of the Magi
The last paragraph of O. Henry's classic Christmas tale says it all. Hopefully, you realize the author's irony. O. Henry's story is NOT uneventful, and certainly not LAMELY related. Most importantly, Jim and Della were NOT two foolish children. Here's the ending for you to read again.:
"The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. "
How about if you take some time to lamely relate the greatest gift that you ever gave, or the most special one that you ever received? If you do, you'll be spreading the Gift of the Magi, and one of the true joys of the Christmas season?
Check out this classic video and commercial to see how happy these children were to receive a Nintendo N64.
posted by JTF @ 10:54 AM
21 comments
21 Comments:
My most meaningful Christmas gift was given to me about seven years ago. Me and my sister really wanted a puppy, since our other dog that we loved so much had died a couple years before. We wouldn't stop begging our parents to let us ask for "santa" to bring us a new puppy. I remember that i was laying in my sister's room with her one night, and we were just thinking of puppy names. When we went down stairs to ask my mom what she thought the name should be if we did get one, and she said Biscuit. We all loved it! About a week or so before christmas, me and Katie got picked up from school, and when we walked in the door, there was a little toy yorkie in a big pretty cage. There was a note on top of the cage that said, " Merry Christmas Katie and Kristina, i didn't want BISCUIT to get cold on the long ride on the slay on christmas eve, so i delivered him early!" I was ecstatic! Me and Katie were so excited that we got a little puppy named Biscuit. This present is so special to me because I love him like he is a part of the family. We still have Biscuit and the day that he passes away will be the worst day of my life because i love Biscuit more then any other present i've ever gotten.
It was like any other normal day, I was on my way home and my mom usually picks me up from the bus stop, when I stepped off the bus and looked at my phone. My mother had sent me a text saying “Your father will be picking you up today, I was running late with errands.” I thought nothing of this and just got into the car with my father, and we start making our way back to the house. On our way home my dad had called my mom and said that we were almost home and then hung up, it was a very peculiar phone call and I was wondering what it was all about. Once we got in the driveway my dad parked the car and I began to run inside because I really had to go to the bathroom. I had drank a lot of water that day in school and the hour long bus ride home had taken it’s toll on me. Then all of a sudden my mother came out of the side door of the garage and said that she couldn’t get the garage door to open. I just called her weird and continued to sprint for the house. Then I looked over and saw the middle garage door opening and this black car driving out. This black car was the one that I had picked out for my 16th birthday. My parents had told me that it wasn’t going to come in till the following Tuesday and I was bummed out for the rest of the week. When I saw it come out of the garage all I said was “SHUT UP!” Then I began thinking to myself how could the car be driving out by itself? Both my parents were in the driveway with me and my sister was in Tampa for college, so who was in the car? Well, next thing I notice is my big sister sitting in the drivers seat. Tears began streaming down my face and I ran over to her and just gave her the biggest hug and just cried. My parents had set the whole thing up! They lied to me and told me my car wasn’t coming in so that they could fly my sister home for the weekend to spend my birthday with me, and give me my car. It was the worst trick ever played on me but it was the best present I could have ever received. I remember my sister saying, “Look at your new car!” and I was just so amazed that she was finally home I didn’t care. I love my little scion to death and I constantly wash it just so it looks amazing all the time. I will forever remember that day because I got my car, but best of all I got to see my sister and share it all with her.
The most special gift that I have ever received was from my Grandparents. Every year my grandparents would come and visit at Christmas time. They would always bring tons of presents for my brother and I, but this year was different. On Christmas morning we ran down stairs and were suddenly disappointed because our present load was much less than normal. After we opened all our presents we still hadn’t gotten anything from my grandparents. That night during dinner they told us that we would be going on a cruise during that spring break to the Caribbean. My whole family, including my grandparents, was going too. The cruise was the most fun week I have ever had. WE were always busy going from one island to the next and got to spend a lot of time with one another. As my grandparents keep getting older and probably could not go on another vacation like this ever again, ill always treasure that week with them. The best part of the gift was that they even got to come with us. I made them a scrapbook of the cruise that following Christmas and my Grandma says that it’s the best present she ever has received.
The greatest gift I have ever given is probably the smallest gift in size that I have given. The gift was to my mom for her 50the birthday. Usually, my dad and I go out and we buy her necesseties every year. Such as hand lotion, pocket tissues and other things she puts in her purse. But this year we went to the Family Christian book store. While I was looking around, I came across something shiny that caught my eye. It was an oval shaped key chain that had a Bible verse on it. The Bible verse said "Do not fear, for I am with you always." When I gave it to my mom, she was extremely happy. She was having a rough time at work and she was getting down on herself since she was getting older. The key chain fit perfectly in her hand and was a nice comfort for her to hold when times were getting rough. Unfortunately, the key chain broke. I will save up my money so I can go back and get a new one for her. It was nice for me to see how happy it made her on her birthday.
The best gift I have ever gotten was probably my first ipod. When I received it, it opened a whole new world for me! I was able to have my favorite thing everywhere I went, my music. Music has always been apart of me so when I received an ipod I was ecstatic. I was jumping up and down screaming my head off. My grandfather was telling me to speak in a softer tone and what the heck I was screaming about. I had wanted an ipod ever since I found out what they were. Both of my brothers had one and I was always jealous so when I received one I couldn’t believe it. It was really the only thing on my Christmas list for two years. Now whenever I get another one which is only once in a blue moon, I still go ecstatic because it is truly the one thing that keeps me sane on a crazy day, lifts my spirit after a bad day, and makes me even happier on a great day. I have had white ipods, blue, and orange these colors go along with how I have changed with this gift including my style and personality definitely. No matter what will happen to me in the very far of future I will always know that I have my ipod, the best gift that I have ever gotten and I will probably ever get.
The most meaningful gift I ever gave someone was the new issue of Nintendo power that I gave to my younger brother for Christmas. The meaningfulness of the gift comes from the fact that my brother is a complete video game addict. It also comes from the fact that it was bought with my own money and I was the one to think of the gift knowing of my brother’s fiendish addiction to electronics. With the new issue came the extra sheet of cheat codes for games that were released this year. This was extra special to him because had just received several brand new games for Christmas. Because my brother has no life outside of the wii he absolutely jumped for joy upon opening my gift this Christmas. He spent the entire Christmas morning on the wii typing in the codes from that sheet. This made him very happy and I know this because he couldn’t keep quiet at breakfast that morning talking about how he had already reached a quarter completion of the new Mario bros game. I myself wonder if it would have been better to have gotten him the new wii fitness game so that he could spending his hours getting in shape. Now he’s played through two more games I less than a month. Playing video games makes him happy but also can frustrate him so I think my magazine and those cheats helped him get past the really hard parts of the game. But as any Christmas present the magazine is collecting dust in the bathroom magazine bin often dusted off when one is in the room for more than ten minutes. But honest to God the kid didn’t put it down until the next week.
The greatest gift I ever gave was one of meager materialistic value, and immense sentimental value, as many of the greatest gifts are. Over this past winter break my whole entire extended family from my dad’s side all went on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate my grandparent’s fiftieth anniversary. The trip was filled with memorable moments of togetherness and bonding, but my dad had assembled a very special gift for my grandparents, as well as for my aunt and uncle. A week before, I had walked into my family room to see my dad standing in front of the TV, with an old video of a toddler crawling around in the grass playing on the screen. I easily induced that the toddler was my dad, the first born of his family, but I wondered why these videos were being culminated, and where they had come from. As I watched, I soon understood the purpose of this nostalgic footage. My dad had gathered over three hours of footage from the childhood of my dad, Steve, my aunt Susan, and my uncle John, and had converted them to DVD form to give to my grandparents for their very special anniversary. I was certain it would be the greatest gift my grandparents would ever receive. When the family gathered in the small theater room the cruise had on the trip’s last day, my grandparents had no idea of the existence of the footage. As we watched it as a family, each person exclaimed at the amazing footage which included various Halloweens, birthdays, vacations, and a trip to the World’s Fair. I, my siblings, and my younger cousins were fascinated at the images of the adults in our family as babies and toddlers, and our grandparents as young aspiring parents in the sixties. Time after time, scene after scene, my grandmother gasped in disbelief at the sight of old friends and the great memories of raising children. My grandparents had no clue that the movies existed, and being reminded by their children and grandchildren of all the joy and fantastic times of their early parenthood on such a special commemorative trip surely must have been a special gift. Because of the elation it brought upon my grandparents, who do so much for me, it is the greatest gift I have ever given.
The most special gift that I have ever received on Christmas was a trip the New York City with my sister and mom to see a Broadway show. It would have been my third time ever going there, but I would have enjoyed it more than before. I had gone once when I was very little, and for a seventh grade field trip to the United Nations, so it was my first time basically. I hadn’t told my parents or anyone really that I had wanted to go to New York City, besides the fact that I adore the city and want to live there when I get older. The entire day was just full of surprises and excitement, and fun times. That was my favorite and most special gift because my parents could have gone out and easily bought me an iPod or new phone, but they wanted to step out of the comfort zone and try something new with memories will last a lifetime. They also spent hours of hard work into planning this whole day and making this day happen without me knowing. We took a train in the early morning all the way up to Madison Square Garden, and then we went to see Legally Blonde on Broadway. My sister and I are huge legally blonde fans and when the musical was aired on MTV one time, I was astounded by it. We would watch the show almost every weekend for around four months, and we always ended up singing the songs they had performed, so when the musical started it was pretty unreal to actually see it live. That was really special since that was my first Broadway show. Around lunch time we ate at Bubba Gump in Times Square and that was fascinating, the view was just spectacular, and the whole day just seemed amazing. The rest of the day was all about shopping and riding the subway to different sites like the Statue of Liberty, the twin tower wreckage, as well as Times Square and Central Park. Even though it was bitterly cold and our train was delayed on the way home, I loved my mom for giving me the chance of what the City had to offer, even if she got sick because of it.
The most meaningful gift I’ve ever received was my dog, Mia. I remember I as in third grade and I had, and still do have an obsession with dogs. All my friends had dogs and I remember always being very jealous of them. I had begged for a dog since I can remember. One day I went to my friend’s house after school. My friend had a dog and her grandmother had three that we played with that day. My mom picked me up from my friend’s house later and the whole car ride home I was telling my mom how much fun the dogs were and that I really, really wanted one. I get home, go up to my room, and the door was shut. When I opened the door there was a little Shih Tzu, only a pound and a half, in a crate. I remember just standing at the door looking at her scratch on the crate to get out. I literally stood at the door for a full thirty seconds before I went over to her. It didn’t even hit me that it was a dog, for me, in my room. I went over to her, opened the crate, held her, pet her, and played with her for the longest time. My mom asked me what I wanted to name her and I said Mia. My favorite movie at the time was the Princess Diaries and the main character in the movie is Mia Thermopolis. Mia still looks like a puppy because she’s only four pounds. To this day I love her so much and it was the best, most meaningful present that I have ever received.
The best gifts are not always ones that you ask for. The best gift that I have received was an electric guitar. It was an idea to get me a guitar by one of my Dad’s friends but I had never really thought about. So my Dad found an 1990 Fender strat at what I think was from a pawn shop. When I opened it on Christmas I was extremely surprised and excited. As I tried it out over the next for weeks I began to get a little discouraged. I had no idea what I was doing. I only used it once or twice a month for awhile. Then about a year later I took intro to guitar at school and then I was glad I received it. Once I had a little direction with guitar I experienced how great playing and instrument can be. Playing guitar can be a rewarding use of your time, unlike playing a video game or some 21st century electronic, you can use your mind and your creativity. You learn about pitch and what chords or notes sound good together. Also a guitar being the most common instrument in music you can learn almost any of the songs you like. The challenge of learning a song or making your own can be relaxing, and mastering a new song is just a great feeling. Another thing guitar introducing to me is playing with a friend. I have two friends that I play with, and playing and instrument with another person is a driving social interaction. You can teach each other things and even with patience create a riff or song. I don’t take playing guitar that seriously yet but I am glad that the opportunity to was opened to me buy the gift of my first guitar.
One of the best gifts I have ever given was a joint gift my brother to my mom. It was a pale gold heart shaped pendent, with a pale rose inside that said ‘Mom’ in beautiful script. The reason it was such a good gift was that: One my brother and I work together (we were about 6 and 8 respectively and if you had siblings you would know its hard to work together at that age) to pick it out and buy it, two it was pick out carefully for a big section of ‘Mom’ jewelry, and three the look one my mom’s face went she saw us, together, giving it to her.Also as another gift to the whole family is that for the first time my brother and I took turns opening presents with out being told to. Every one had one of the best family Christmas ever.
One of the best gifts I have ever given was a joint gift my brother to my mom. It was a pale gold heart shaped pendent, with a pale rose inside that said ‘Mom’ in beautiful script. The reason it was such a good gift was that: One my brother and I work together (we were about 6 and 8 respectively and if you had siblings you would know its hard to work together at that age) to pick it out and buy it, two it was pick out carefully for a big section of ‘Mom’ jewelry, and three the look one my mom’s face went she saw us, together, giving it to her.Also as another gift to the whole family is that for the first time my brother and I took turns opening presents with out being told to. Every one had one of the best family Christmas ever.
A few years ago, my mom took me on a trip to Los Angeles, California. I'd been begging her for months to go out there just to see everything and to visit my cousins who live out there because I hadn't seen them in awhile. She agreed and set up everything necessary. Once we landed, I knew I loved it immediately. Just the feeling when I got off of the plane was so different then Delaware. You get a certain sense of calmness even though there are so many people there. Nothing is rushed and if you're late or something it's not a big deal. Everything is just so laid back out there. When we had to leave, I was extremely upset about coming back to Delaware because I felt like California was where I was supposed to be. So ever since then I've been bugging my mom to take me back out there for a couple of days but she never gave any indication of agreeing to it. During Christmas break this year, I walked into the living room to open presents on Christmas morning. My mom always puts all of our presents in one big box to save some room and wrapping paper, but on top of the box was a piece of paper. Two tickets for Los Angeles, California. She even went above and beyond in booking our trip. Instead of just a few days in a hotel we're staying for all of August until school starts back up. This is the greatest gift I've ever received because my mom really didn't have to do all of that. She could have just booked a few days but since she knew how much I really loved California she's staying out there with me for three and a half weeks in a rental house. It really shows how much moms will go for their kids and that, to me, is the most meaningful thing in the world.
The most meaningful gift I have ever received would probably be my bunny. She is 3 years old now, but when I got her she was my first real pet. I had had fish before, but that was it. When I was in sixth grade, I really wanted a small white rabbit with brown eyes. Before Christmas we went to the pet store and there was an adorable white baby bunny with brown eyes. I had to have her. On Christmas my parents told me we could buy her. Unfortunately, she died a week after I got her. I was devastated. So we searched for a year for a small white bunny with brown eyes, and finally the next year we found one. I was in seventh grade, and I named her Tinkerbelle. Now, she is the only family pet we have, but the most meaningful gift I have ever gotten.
The greatest gift I have ever gotten was given to me when I was three years old, and it still affects me to this day. On Christmas day 1998 I opened up my first pair of ballet shoes. I had been begging my mom to take dance ever since I saw my sister in her recital. I don’t really remember actually getting the ballet shoes, but my mom tells me that I didn’t take them off until my first actual class. I was so excited to be on stage wearing those fancy costumes just like my sister. The funny thing is that my first year I ended up hating it and wanted to quit after about two months, but my mom made me stick with it because I had been begging her all year. I’m happy she made me stay with it because I still dance to this day making it thirteen years now. I dance everyday of the week and it never gets old and it has opened up so many opportunities for me. Dance has also sort of molded me into the person I am today. It is something I am really passionate about and it all started with that Christmas when I was three years old.
The greatest gift that I have ever recieved I got on I think my third Christmas so I was almost four years old. I dont really remember it but my parents always tell me the story but i do remember how excited I was on that Christmas morning. I probably thought it was the greatest thing ever like most kids do when they get a gift that they really wanted on Christmas morning. Well anyway back to the story a few days before Christmas I was in my parents room for some reason I can;t remember now though but I found the gifts that they were going to give to me and my sisters for Christmas so of course I had to look because I was confused since I still believed in Santa. Well anyway I really wanted the big-wheel for Christmas and I wrote a letter to Santa and that's what I asked for. Well that was in the group of presents from my parents and I ran down to my mom and explained to her how she has to go and return because I told Santa to bring it for me so she can't give it to me also. So she told me that she returned it and on that Christmas I was so happy because I got the big-wheel and since I knew that it couldn't have been from my parents I knew it had to be from Santa Clause. Which ment that Santa must have gotten my letter. It was the greatest gift because it was the last Christmas that I still believed in Santa. It made it very special for me because I can't remeber the two Christmases before it so that was the most special Christmas I've ever had.
The best present I have ever received was for my 15th birthday from my best friend. We have been friends from the moment she moved next door to move when we are four. Every year we get a meaningful present, usually one that involves an inside joke between us, for each other on birthdays and Christmases. However, last April the present Ally gave me meant so much more then any other present. When we met outside in our cul-de-sac, instead of handing me a box or a bag, she handed me an envelope. In that envelope was three things; a card, a letter, and a necklace. The card was a cute hallmark and on the inside was 115 reasons why I am her best friend, which of course made me laugh. The letter that was also in the envelope she wrote me. In that letter she told me how much I meant to her as a friend and how I have changed her life for ever. She wrote about some of our most fun days and even times when we were sad. After I finished reading it I had tears in my eyes and I couldn't thank her enough. Finally, the necklace that she gave me was beautiful. It looks like a ribbon formed into a heart and engraved into it is the saying "A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart." I wear that necklace everyday and sometimes it feels weird when i don't have it on. I guess the saying is true that all good things come in small packages.
The most special gift I ever received was a plane ticket. We had just moved and for months I was depressed and lonely, missing my friends and my home. It wasn’t feeling at all like Christmas, and all I wanted was to go home. I got my wish in the form of a plane ticket from my parents. When they told me I would be going home on Boxing Day, I cried. I was so happy, and that thought kept me happy up until Christmas, where I enjoyed the holiday, but kept waiting for the next day to come. When I got off the plane and saw my best friend waiting for me outside, I screamed and ran, dragging my suitcase behind me. I hadn’t seen her in four months and I missed her so bad. I was worried we might have grown apart, but as soon as I saw her I could see it wasn’t true. Just walking outside and smelling the air of my home made tears come to my eyes. My two best friends had planned a surprise party of me to be sure I would see all my friends in the short time I had to spend. I was so overjoyed to be back home, and my friends and I spent hours just talking and hanging around, glad to be back together. It ended all too soon, and I cried when I had to leave, but I knew I would be back soon, and that we would always be friends no matter how far apart we lived. I’m filled with gratitude for my parents who gave me the ticket that made me so incredibly happy, when we were short on money because of all the costs of moving. They knew how important it was to me, and that made it all the more special.
The greatest gift I ever received was from my grandparents for Christmas. Every year they get my family a present we would enjoy together. They always think outside the box and give gifts that seem like fun. Most of the time it’s either a play or some sort of show. The past two years were Christmas re-enactments in a big theater. My brother thought it was going to be somewhat similar. When we were each given a piece of paper I immediately knew it was going to be entertaining. All that was on it though was a date and a line that said, “Don’t plan anything on this day.“ I was pretty confused at first until they told us where were we going. This year my grandparents planned a trip to see the circus. I was pretty excited when I first heard this, I’ve never been to one before. I thought seeing a circus is a good original gift. My little cousins were extremely thrilled about this too. A circus is going to be a new experience for us all, making this the best gift yet. I thanked my grandparents and could tell they were pleased by our expressions. Making them happy is a good present in return because I know that’s all they really want. Not every gift we get has to be materialistic, sometimes spending time with your family is more important. Christmas joy brings true meaning during the holiday season and shows how everyone truly cares about each other. My grandparents definitely spread the Gift of the Magi this year and hopefully for many more to come.
My favorite present that I ever got for Christmas was when I was eight years old. I really, really wanted a brick. Yes, a brick. I wanted this brick, because I loved to build gnome houses in my backyard. Unfortunately for me, my gnome houses always fell down and got blown over by the wind. I remembered that when I was in Williamsburg, the year before, these tour guides told me that the old colonials use to make bricks out of mud and straw, so I though I would make little bricks out of my brick. You see I wanted a brick with rectangular holes in it so I could shape my mud bricks. I would then use my little bricks to make really sturdy gnome houses that wouldn’t get knocked down. So I asked “Santa” for a brick with rectangular holes. I woke up Christmas morning expecting to get a brick, but after unwrapping all my presents I didn’t get a brick. I was really sad, because I wanted to make really good gnome houses. My brother had a surprise for me though as one last gift. My brother brought me this great big box that felt heavy. I opened and low and behold my own brother got me the brick I wanted! But that wasn’t all my brother had also already me at least 20 small bricks for my gnome houses! This was my favorite present ever, because my brother gave it to me and it was more then I asked for.
Yeah, I know that Holden kid. He’s a really pain in the a$% sometimes. He called me up a couple of weeks ago to see if I wanted to go get a drink with him. I said yes of course, being the generous and nice man I am. I hadn’t seen him in a while either and I assumed he would have matured by now, but I guess I was wrong. He’s always used to go on about some flit here and some flit there. I think we all know we’re over stuff like that, at least I know it. I can’t believed he buzzed me. It’s been, what, three years? I was his RA for chrisssake. One of the first things he asked was if some guy I never met before was a flit. What kind of way is that to start a conversation? One of the next things he asks me is ‘how is your sex life?’ I mean what the heck does he need to know that for? Holden needs to mature like the rest of us strapping gentlemen. I have no idea what could be wrong with that boy. I recommended tat he go see a psychoanalysts or somthin’ but he wouldn’t take none of it. I even told him that I got psychoanalyzed, or I almost told him. I think he wanted to have an “intelligent” conversation, but Holden one of those boys that just never grows up even he wants to ya know? I ordered a dry martini when I was with him, two if my memory serves. I warned him from my first drink to not start this Caulfield crap, but he started anyway, just like Caulfield I suppose, never going to grow up, never going to be mature. What a shame. People just go to waste these days. My Chinese girlfriend, whom Caulfield was very interested in, had a brother in China. She talks about how he just wastes away doing nothing, it’s sad really, such an intelligent girl and she has to have a moron family. Anyway you wanted to know about Caulfield right? Well, to be honest with you, he bores me. A dry as my martini almost. I got a second martini, dryer this time, to compare Holden to. Holden was dryer. I eventually cracked on Holden though. He pushed me past my boundaries. I shouted, almost, and told him to cut the Caulfield crap again. Guess what he did? He kept the same Caulfield crap a coming.
What idiot asks how somebody’s sex life is doing? I swear it seems like he is still at Whooton or something. Kids these days. What do they teach them? I say they send Caulfield somewhere. For a summer maybe. To straighten him up. I suppose they’ll do that. Poor Caulfield though, can’t get any action, if you know what I mean. It really seemed like he wanted to go to China, to see if it would spice up his ‘sex life.' Hey, what kind of idiot is he? Then that time came I just couldn’t stand him anymore. So I said I had to go somewhere. Don’t tell him this, but I really didn’t have to go anywhere I just wanted to get away from such an immature person. He was driving me nutters and all. One thing that he asked me, at the last second before I left, is if I had ever been psychoanalyzed. I said no, I mean I have, but you can’t say stuff like that. He was really interested in it. It scared me to tell you truth. I told him that I had my father help me adjust, that way he couldn’t make fun of me, in his immature Caulfield way. That’s about it I guess. Haven’t heard from, or seen from him since. Now that I think back, it was a bit immature of to leave him like that, but fight fire with fire I guess. You never know.
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