Today I received something in the mail. That’s the POSTAL mail, not e-mail….
I really didn’t know how to feel when I opened the box. My friend had sent me something she made, herself.
I don’t get gifts often. I don’t recall ever being given a gift of this – uh… caliber? Of this quality? With this significance? Hell, I don’t really know what to call it, how to feel about it and certainly how to thank her properly. I mean, I will of course, it’s just that this gift, it’s just so – uh intense? Awesome? Bitchin? It’s just a really good gift.
On the gift scale of 1 to 10, this is definitely a 10. It’s a top-rate gift, definitely in the upper echelon as far as gifts go. An equivalent store-bought gift would have to be, say, maybe a Rolex Submariner watch, perhaps a Gen III Night vision monocular, or maybe a dive trip to the crater of Molokini on the Island of Maui.
This gift is needle-point, and apparently good work. A woman at my office does needle point and was very impressed at the detail. I noticed the gold thread running around the inscription. I’ve largely been avoiding the gift, and only while writing did I begin to understand why…
I guess I don’t feel I deserve something of this magnitude and I suppose that bothers me.
I deserve the trip to Maui, or the watch, but not this. This gift is too much so I’m avoiding it for now. In time I’ll pick it up and examine its wonderful detail. For the time being it’s in the corner that houses my Shidoshi license, 6th Dan certificate from Hatsumi Soke, and my Shoden license from Kenshinsai Machida Koncho, as well as my swords.
In time I will mount it up on the wall, above these certificates because frankly this gift has more talismanic power than the rest, and in the final analysis I have to believe that having a friend like Danna give me something like this gift says more about who I am than all my certificates and licenses put together.
Thank you Danna…
Greg
Well Rev. Greg,
On a scale from 1 to 10 for "thank you's" that has to be a 12. The best I've ever had!! Saying "thank you" is probably harder that saying "I'm sorry" for some people.
And...Your Welcome.
Danna
Posted by: Danna at May 25, 2004 06:36 PMIt never ceases to amaze me at exactly how hard it is to receive a gift. Not to mention, to thank someone for a gift received. I, personally, always seem to feel awkward when thanking someone for a gift. It's just a rare thing to come by, these days, I'm afraid. People don't normally sincerely thank each other any more. It's more or less just conditioned responses. Indeed, you are not alone, Greg.
Rev. Caleb Perkins, ninja and yamabushi
Posted by: Rev. Caleb at May 25, 2004 10:41 AM