The art of gifting - is a very fine art. You learn with age. Or should I say you realize after some time.
When a friend of mine Liza from the Bright Lights Big City (KL) came back to her kampung for the kenduri (wedding feast/celebrations), a curious me wanted to know the kind of gifts exchanged hands in the kampung these days (it is not a traditional custom in these parts for weddings). I asked L if I could be present during the gift-opening ceremony. She reluctantly agreed. Perhaps, because she owed me RM50. It was a big affair. Her grandma, who cannot walk was also wheeled in from the next room.
While L’s mother wanted the biggest gift to be opened first, L said she wanted to go from the smallest to the biggest. The issue was finally settled. She picked up the smallest gift...it had come from a common friend of ours. The guy had gifted four tea cups with saucers. “Bastard!,” I heard somebody saying. Don’t know which side it came from.
The next gift was a night lamp. By the time we finish, we would be left staring at 18 night lamps. Wonder why people think after marriage most couples end up sleeping.
After the lamps, it was a casserole. Next, a flask. Next, wall clock. Next, a picture frame. And then, the gifts started repeating itself. Someone had even taken the trouble of gifting a Sidney Sheldon. Perhaps, he/she had finished reading it.
Then there was another common friend called P who gifted L a towel. It looked familiar. Had I gifted it once to P...I was not sure. I looked for that small mark in the corner compliments from my favourite cat Jetti (how she got the name is another story)...which was the reason why I had parted with it in the first place...and yes, it was there. So, that cheapo had forwarded my gift.
I have already marked the ones that are not good ‘gifters’ and don’t invite them to my functions. BTW, did I tell you...I have not been getting much invites lately, I wonder why??
With lots of love and hugs, from Jetti* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
