ON GIFT GIVING

My family is not a giving family. We do not give hugs. We do not give kisses. We do not give gifts. We rarely even give acknowledgement of each other's existences. Sometimes, we give money, but that's because if my parents stopped paying my tuition, I would be exceedingly unhappy and probably vengeful. So that's sort of a contractual exchange.

This year, because my parents occasionally complain that I don't get them gifts for their birthdays or any other holiday, which is true, I decided to give my father a Christmas gift (though not my mother, without really considering how such one-sided generosity might precipitate familial strife). It was a copy of Naked Economics, which I figured might get him to stop grilling me about economics and to start grilling the author instead. (I don't know how that's going to happen, but as long I stop being asked to defend outsourcing, I will be happy.)

The gift arrived today, and my father immediately decided it was for me. I pointed out that it had his name on it. Why, he asked? Because it was his Christmas gift. "Oh. Couldn't you just check it out of the library?" he responded.

Next year, my father's Christmas gift will consist of a slip of paper with a call number, and I will use the money to buy myself a book instead.