Author Topic: My Sister Again  (Read 5547 times)

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Maggie

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My Sister Again
« on: December 14, 2006, 08:13:19 PM »
Well my sister and I have this thing that neither one of us is very good at keeping a secret and so I called her today and in the course of the conversation I said I had gotten her Christmas present.  She asked what it was and it was an I'll tell you if you tell me moment. 

Well she used to collect coke memorabilia but I guess she doesn't now, although when I asked my mom if I should return it she said why the house is full of it.  She still collects it. 

So what would you do...return it and find something else or give it to her?

hobish

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2006, 08:17:26 PM »

Hmmmm. What was her reaction? If it is going to eat at you that she was really dissapointed you might want to return it for your own peace of mind.
It's alright, man. I'm only bleeding, man. Stay hungry, stay free, and do the best you can.
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Maggie

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2006, 08:20:47 PM »
Well my first thought is to go ahead and give it to her...

MrsP81

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2006, 07:46:49 AM »
If she said that she no longer collects it then I would return it and get her somethng she will enjoy. Maybe the fact that her house is full of it is the reason why she has stopped collecting it.

Oxymoroness

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2006, 07:46:59 AM »
In your shoes I'd hang on to it unless I had a flash of inspiration. Then I'd buy the new gift and return the old. Think of it as your "back-up" gift.

graceh9

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2006, 01:06:20 PM »
I know several people who had had collections sort of foisted upon them e.g. the woman who was charming when someone gave her an owl themed cookie jar and as a result was tagged with 'collects owls' and now has a house full of owl themed junk
she hates it

if someone has said they don't collect something then it is pretty rude to push more of this on them --- especially ESPECIALLY if they have a house full of it.  the OP would have been fine if she and her sister had not spilled the beans on their gifts -- BUT having satiated her curiosity, the 'punishment' is she really needs to return the gift and get something more thoughtful -- because now she KNOWS it isn't welcome

next time don't 'peak' LOL

Olivia

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2006, 02:25:07 PM »
I think it would be nice of you to return it.  It sounds like her collection is complete.   :)

amiboo

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2006, 04:34:49 PM »
Another thought on collections is that someone (me) maybe very particular about the items they collect.  I have a collection of nativities but one can only display so many nativities before it gets completely out of control so I've been very, very selective about which ones are in my collection.  I have several now and I think I've about hit the limit.
1 - a large, beautiful nativity that my mom painted for me many years ago
2 - the small Precious Moments set
3 - an adorable set that looks like little kids dressed up for a school play
4 - a tiny, tiny set that my sister gave me. They were hand made by her friend and are seriously tiny - baby Jesus is about 1/4" long
5 - a set in a large Christmas tree ball with one side cut out so you can see it
6 - a sort of abstract one carved out of wood - technically not a nativity, it's Mary on the donkey with Joseph leading them
7 - a beautiful plate with an inset nativity scene
8 - a small handcarved piece that's all in one chunk
9 - a framed photo of several of my nieces and nephews dressed up, they're so cute!

Rose2Bear

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #8 on: December 16, 2006, 12:28:03 AM »
I know several people who had had collections sort of foisted upon them e.g. the woman who was charming when someone gave her an owl themed cookie jar and as a result was tagged with 'collects owls' and now has a house full of owl themed junk
she hates it

Is that true??? You actually know someone who had owls forced upon them and now lives in an owl themed house? WHy doenst she just put them away? Thats terrible! Please tell me that was hypothetical?

VorFemme

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2006, 11:16:22 AM »
Last year at the thrift shop, we had a lady bring in MOST of her pansy collection (tote bag, paper supplies, jewelry, umbrella, plates, candles, Tiffany style lamps, and MORE) - they were redecorating and down-sizing.  She kept "the best" pieces that she couldn't live without and decorated the guest room with them.

The hubby's Coke collection went into his office/study.

The living room, dining room, and kitchen were stripped of "collections" and the wallpaper & paint were redone. 

I knew a lady who collected owls when I was in high school - but she LIKED them.  She had been a school teacher - something tells me owls were less obvious than APPLES............

Although I knew a school teacher (DD's kindergarten teacher) who collected apples - after retiring, she pared that collection down to the "best of the best" - and an apple sampler that I had cross stitched for her made the cut - she showed me a photo of the apple arrangement in one corner of their new house's livingroom.

Moving or redecorating does tend to give someone a good "reason" to get rid of an accumulation of things that they don't want to keep any more................whether they ever wanted them or not in the first place doesn't have to be mentioned.  (Like the example by a previous poster of someone who hated owls getting saddled with a reputation as a "collector".)



Let sleeping dragons be.......morning breath......need I say more?

Maggie

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #10 on: December 16, 2006, 01:26:05 PM »
This is the same sister that complained about the pizza oven when my house burned.  She  is amazingly selfish (at least I think) and incredibly hard to buy for because she is single and if she wants something she buys it.  She is also the one that asks what you want and then buys what she thinks you should have. 


Chirple

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2006, 02:47:45 PM »
Four words...

return it

gift certificate


Oxymoroness

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #12 on: December 16, 2006, 02:59:59 PM »
Quote
Is that true??? You actually know someone who had owls forced upon them and now lives in an owl themed house? WHy doenst she just put them away? Thats terrible! Please tell me that was hypothetical?

There are people who simply cannot say "no." Or absolutely must display all gifts - even the unwanted ones. In that sort of situation it's important to do 2 things:

1. Learn how to communicate the things that do interest you so that people won't have to guess. Most people will make guesses on favorite colors, style, and "thing" by how a person's house is decorated.

2. It's ok to "retire" gifts ... even if it's a few minutes after the giver leaves. Receive all gifts graciously, and dispose of the less desireable ones in an equally gracious manner. (In a way that would keep the giver as ignorant as possible.) An exception of course would be for situations where the gift is an unpleasant message, attack or otherwise toxic situation. Then a "thanks but no thanks" is perfectly fine.

Balletmom

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2006, 08:08:02 AM »
OHhhh, THAT sister? 

I can think of a few gift ideas.  ;D

Seriously, return it and get a gift card.  Really,

graceh9

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Re: My Sister Again
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2006, 09:52:52 AM »
I know several people who had had collections sort of foisted upon them e.g. the woman who was charming when someone gave her an owl themed cookie jar and as a result was tagged with 'collects owls' and now has a house full of owl themed junk
she hates it

Is that true??? You actually know someone who had owls forced upon them and now lives in an owl themed house? WHy doenst she just put them away? Thats terrible! Please tell me that was hypothetical?

this was a few years back but she kinda liked owls, had a few owl things and gthen it just got out of control and pretty soon there was an owl kitchen clock and owl mugs and owl figurines etc etc -- people just kept giving them to her  -- I think she finally did call a halt -- but I have seen this phenomenon several times where someone else gives someone something and then everyone else finds that an 'easy' approach to future giving and innundate them with it

my first MIL was impossible to please -- her husband at one point gave her a fancy teacup and tried to launch a teacup collection -- she got about 6 in before putting her foot down on more teacups

I think it is safe to say that most people don't want chintzy additions to their 'collections' -- i.e. knick knacks from Cracker Barrel or wherever in the 'theme' of the collection