Gifts That Keep on Giving

Over the years most of my close friends made the decision that we wouldn't exchange presents at Christmas anymore. After all, we were adults and only needed each other's company as "presents". That's all well and good, except for the fact that if you live alone as I do, opening NOTHING on Christmas Day isn't fun.
But this year I have the good fortune to be linked to the blog world and Jennifer Lauck's writer's circle and some of their friends. The lovely Michelle O'Neil michelleoneilwrites sent out a request to several of these bloggers/writers that they send me "nostalgic" toys re: a post I had written about 2 favorite toys. The toys I received were exceptional and are displayed on my writing desk within easy reach. Slinky, silly putty, translucent magnets, finger puppets, play doh, Put the Hair on Harry, (lovely game)and a baby smurf are only some of the great toys I received wrapped for Christmas in the mail.
But Michelle's gift will be memorable for many people.
I had taken a couple of the Silly Putty eggs to work with me and occasionally would play with them while working at my desk. Diagnosing computer issues for hardware and software is sometimes a waiting game. What better distraction than to fool around with Silly Putty? I was the envy of all the other tech geeks in my office.
On the last day of work before the Christmas break, the IT Department I work in held a Holiday dinner just before leaving. As I packed up my stuff for the week off I noticed that only one egg of my Silly Putty had it's Silly Putty inside. Where was the other Silly Putty? I looked everywhere, even going so far as accusing one of my colleagues of "stealing it." Everyone assured me that no one had stolen it and a search was started to recover the missing Silly Putty. But the search brought no results. Actually the only result was that we were all late for the Holiday Dinner.
I was forced to accept the fact that it would turn up somewhere at some point, but probably not until after the New Year when we returned to work.
We then proceeded to the Holiday Dinner which was set up in one of the lecture halls where we work. Great food, great drinks, linen napkins and red linen tablecloths adorned the tables.
I love my job and I am crazy about the people I work with. I was having a great time.
Until......
As I finished eating and took my elbows off the table, where they shouldn't have been in the first place, the entire tablecloth, dishes, glasses, etc. came flying off the table into my lap and the laps of the 2 other people sitting next to me.
As I sat there looking astonished, I could hear my co-worker across the table say, "Look, there's your silly putty. It's stuck to the bottom of your shirtsleeve."
Yep. It was and it stuck to the tablecloth and dragged everything off with it.

Jill, one of my very favorite if not best friend, gave me a beautiful jar of French Hand and Body Lotion for Christmas. Jill knows I LOVE THIS STUFF and wanted me to have this.
I started using this immediately. Dabbed it behind my ears, neck, arms hands, and chance I got. The scent was heavenly. Even put some on before I went to bed.
After a few days I noticed my skin was flaky like the scales on a fish. My skin was incredibly dry and I broke out in a rash on my neck.
Jill called and asked how I liked the lotion. With regret I told her what had happened. I was sure this gift was very expensive and felt bad that I could no longer use it. She then asked what I thought to be a strange question. "When are you using this"? I told her I had been using it freely over the past week. I could hardly understand her response amid her laughter. "It's a Hand and Body SHAMPOO."
I looked at the jar and indeed I had read only the first three words, "Hand and Body"...
Maybe there's a good reason why my friends have decided not to exchange presents anymore...........