Birthdays.
Hey guys,
now I don't know about you but I'm crap at buying birthday presents for people. Christmas, and Mothers Day, and Fathers Day, and Valentines, and whatever, are all easy because the stores sell stuff for you to give that are season specific. But birthdays occur all over the place and when they're close friends you feel you're expected to really put in a lot of effort. But it's hard to get meaningful gifts when you're in your teens. You're goring through different phases and you tend not to be very open with those close to you so it's hard to know if you're choosing the right gifts. Like currently, I had no idea what to get Cookie for her 18th birthday that's coming up. I managed to get three or four items together that I think are appropriate for such an event but I honestly had no idea. The thoughts going through my head when I was brainstorming ideas (and yes I brainstorm gift ideas) were along the lines of "Do I get her a 18th specific present, like a champagne glass with a glittery 18 and butterfly on it?" and "Should I get her something sentimental, something she can pass on to her children when she has them?" all the way to "Should I just get her food? Everyone loves food?". I had no idea what to get her, I decided to go with my gut and take the sentimental route. I am a very sentimental person and I believe that on special birthdays that mark the beginning of a period (16 -proper teenage years, 18- legally an adult, 21- can drink in US and UK, 50, etc.) you should just receive bits and bobs you should receive gifts that have sentimental value and can be passed along to your children, whether on their same birthday or on another special birthday/event such as graduation or something. I'm not sure where I adopted this idea given that my parents aren't very sentimental people despite the amount of photos and items in their memory boxes?
Anyway, so this raises my question.. What would you want to receive for your eighteenth birthday? Or your sixteenth, or twenty first, or fiftieth? I personally would want to receive sentimental gifts, gifts that I can pass along to my children, and they can pass along to theirs. I think that's a beautiful thing, a tradition that used to be normal but is sort of lost now. In fact I can specifically say some of the things I would like to receive for my eighteenth. I would like to receive a copy of the complete collection of stories, poems, and short stories of Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne. We used to have a copy of this when I was a child but as far as we know it's been lost in all the moving we've done in the past five years. Anyway, my dad used to read me a different story from it every night, in fact I think he only read a page or two each night until I nodded off? But those stories were what I grew up to, that book was the first book I read from once I learnt how to read and the stories I remember have stayed with me, they make me smile [the memories of reading with Father] when I'm sort of sad, and I would just love to have the original copy or if that's not possible a new copy so I can re-read them whenever, and read them to my children when the time comes, then they can read them to their children. I would also like a Purity Ring. I actually wanted one for my sixteenth birthday but I was too shy to ask my parents for one and I didn't want to face the criticism I would receive at school for staying abstinent, so I left it. But I regret that now and would really like one for my eighteenth.
I just asked my parents what they received for their eighteenth birthday, my Mother said she received a few silver necklaces and pendents and rings and stuff and a suitcase. Back in her times this was a big deal, I think the pendant and necklace I currently wear were actually hers from then that I took? And she also informed me that I would be receiving the suitcase for my eighteenth. When I asked my Father he sort of laughed and informed me that he didn't receive anything of importance for his eighteenth. I was sort of shocked until I remembered that he was probably in England when he turned 18 and over there and in America as well 21 is the birthday of importance and independence not 18. So I asked him what he received for his 21st birthday and he told me "A key.". I was slightly confused until I remembered this old wooden key I used to see lying around the place in our home in Western Australia. It was about the length of an adult males foot, was wooded, had an engraved '21st' on it and was signed by the people who attended his birthday or something. It used to be a symbol, like the key of independence, but now given that most teenagers receive their independence once they get their P's receiving this 'key' isn't as sentimental or meaningful. I'm not sure if I'd want to receive one, I would loose it and to be honest the idea doesn't hold much appeal to me, much like the other '18th" specific presents like glasses, or I don't know.. Other stuff? I just don't like it when it has the age on it unless it was a photo frame. And even then, it would just end up cluttered on my desk or something?
So I went to the internet and asked what my friends would want to receive for their 18th birthdays, or what they did receive.
Cookie said she would like to have a working car. She currently has a VW Beetle, but her dad has decided to 'fix it up' and to be honest it looks like it's currently in some scary car horror movie... And she's able to go for her P's on her actual birthday. So she would like to receive a working car.
Leprechaun said he would want books. Nothing specific, nothing sentimental, nothing of much value. Just the same presents he received for his 17th birthday and will receive for his 19th.
Dotty (another male friend of mine, but unlike The Nerd he is stationed in WA) said he would want a car too. But said if it was from a friend, jacks or vodka (basically alcohol).
A Facebook 'friend' said he'd probably like to receive books and 'stuff'.
Another Facebook 'friend' said she'd like to receive Visa cards, or new electronics, but mostly money so she could go shopping with her friends and have a blast and make some memories.
Yet another Facebook 'friend' said she'd like a laptop, in preparation for College (obviously stationed in America), for her 16th she would want a car, 21st she would go out drinking and receive alcohol.
G-String said he'd either like a sentimental gift, or a bottle of jacks.
So basically this whole modern generation isn't as sentimental as the past ones were. Or maybe I just value the older values (can I say that, is that right?) more than the modern values. G-String also said he doesn't drink alcohol, that it's just something to receive. I don't even understand that? If your 18 and can legally buy yourself alcohol (in Australia) wouldn't you want to go and get it yourself? I don't know. I'm not up with the times or whatever.
I can't remember what the beginning of this post is but I feel I should start to wrap it up before I start dribbling shit.... So comment below what you would want to receive on these 'special' birthdays or what you did receive, I would honestly love to hear from all of you! So please comment below, subscribe or whatever, +1 this, share my blog with your friends, and give me some suggestions on what I can discuss and what I can do to improve my blog!
Thank you for reading!
Live long and prosper, godspeed.
Becca.
[I sort of lost my flow with this one, I'm really sorry about that. I started writing this about three hours ago, and yeah, just sorry about that.]
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