When I was a kid, I remember watching kid shows like Bozo
the Clown, Azel’s Treehouse, and Captain Kangaroo. Usually I enjoyed the content, as any kid
would and did. But I remember one
episode that really bothered me and does to this day.
I can’t remember which TV show it was for sure, but in my
mind I think it was Bozo. I apologize in
advance to the Bozo show if I am laying the blame at the wrong show’s door.
It was Christmas time, and there was a witch character on
this particular show. That I remember
well. And there was a clown who
tormented the witch with clues and hints about what he had purchased for
her. One of the hints was the first
initials of the item he was going to present.
HD.
This excited the witch, who was convinced that HD stood for
the new-fangled hand-held hair dryers that were becoming very popular at that
time (we call them blowdryers).
When the presentation of the gift finally came, the witch
opened her gift to find a towel. She was
furious! The clown assured her that a
towel was indeed a hair dryer. But that
didn’t calm the witches rath at having gotten a towel instead of the electric
hair dryer she had imagined she was going to receive.
This was supposed to be funny…her indignation was supposed
to make the children laugh, along with the clown’s confusion at what the witch
was so upset about. And the audience
made up of children didn’t disappoint the producers. They laughed at the antics of that clown and
witch. I felt disgusted.
My mom had a saying (okay…my mom had a bunch of sayings)
that one should “never look a gift-horse in the mouth”. At my young age, I understood the meaning of
this…that a “gift” should never EVER be ridiculed or looked down on. A gift was a wonderful thing. It represents thoughtfulness on the giver’s
part, and deserves gratitude on the recipient’s part. The gift-towel was not graciously received with
thankfulness. It was ridiculed. That bothered me so much that even 50 plus
years later, remembering it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Some people feel “cheated” if they receive home-made gifts,
or inexpensive gifts…some people feel “cheated” if they receive anything but a
gift card or money. I can’t understand
those feelings. Handmade gifts to me are
the best…they represent a lot of personal thought and time sacrificed by the
giver. However, I understand that not
all have the time or talent for handmade gift giving. So just because I really appreciate the
handmade item, it doesn’t mean I don’t equally appreciate the purchased
gift. I don’t judge by the expense of
the item. I am thankful that someone
thought enough of me to give me something.
Not long ago I received a gift from a friend, and was later
told by one who knew that the item that was given me was “re-gifted”. Some people may gasp when reading this. I personally was not offended. So this friend received something that they
either didn’t want or wouldn’t use, or both, but thought of me and reasoned
that I may enjoy the very thing they didn’t want. I appreciated being thought of, and I have
used this gift over and over again. I
really like it!
I am also not offended to receive something that is second
hand. Now having said that, let me
clarify that there is a difference between “used” and “junk”. I don’t think I have to define the
difference. I believe we all know that
difference. But there are often things
in the thrift shops or garage sales that I would enjoy having but maybe wouldn’t
spend money on it for myself. What is wrong with someone else blessing me with
that item as a gift? I think that would
be very thoughtful of them.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. In other words, realize it is the thought
that counts, not the gift. Or in other
words besides the other words…be thankful for all you receive. Every gift is a blessing.
