So, it’s my birthday today. (Please, no applause.) But it’s inspiring today’s question–What, if any, memorable or special book have you ever gotten as a present? Birthday or otherwise. What made it so notable? The person who gave it? The book itself? The “gift aura?”
My only sister and I have birthdays that are just three weeks apart. For many years, we've done birthday presents as an event, getting the same thing for each other. For example, one year we saw a play together about Motherhood, each buying the other the ticket. We've shopped for clothes together, buying the same sweatshirt or exercise gear. Basically what happens is we go shopping and if I see something I like, she offers to buy it, but since she really likes it too, I buy it for her, maybe in a different color. On our Mediterranean cruise, we bought each other hand made flip flops on Capri. We picked the same color and style. As an aside, they are my favorite sandals, and if they wear out, I will have to go back to Capri to get another pair.
The best part of our tradition is that it can happen at any time we are out shopping together. Did we get birthday presents this year? Not yet? Here you go, Happy Birthday, I want mine in blue.
One year, we decided to buy books for each other. We planned to get four books in total, and we went to the bookstore together and picked out books, blind from the shelf. It took us a long time, which ended up being an event in itself. I can't remember all the books, but I know Memoirs of Geisha and Clan of the Cave Bear were two of the books.
For Christmas last year, we gave each other Ken Jennings' Brainiac. I laughed when I opened it, knowing I had given her the same book.
I love our birthdays. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the names but
1)A Toronto private school planned a school trip to Greece. One of the girls was named Cassandra.
2) I think it was about an orphanage in Australia?
yes, one was definitely orphans in Australia, and the other in Toronto at a girls school. I knew you'd remember.
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome! I think I'd have loved having a brother or sister, I'm envious of the close relationships people have with their siblings.
ReplyDeleteI felt so good reaing this! My brothers know my love for reading and take me along to buy books for me!
ReplyDeleteI so love it when I go scouring the bookstore and they foot the bill!
*grin*
Booking through presents
Wow. To me it just seems strange reading your post, but only because I didn't have a very good relationship with my brother and I'm quite jealous..
ReplyDeleteMan, me and my sister could never do that. We are too opposite!
ReplyDeleteOops!! Thought it was YOUR birthday.
ReplyDeleteThat's so neat that you're aimilar in your tastes, and hilarious that you bought the same book!
My mom and her sister do the same thing...someone is always running back to the store because she bought a duplicate thing for my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteThey also bought the exact same loungers for their houses.
Happy birthday to both of you! Nice choice re the Ken Jennings book.