Useful gifts

Sometimes your past comes back to haunt you; I remember one year when my brother and I were both young, we pooled our money at Christmastime and bought Dad a No. 10 scoop shovel with the hope of making his work a little easier.

Then later, we decided Mom needed a new iron. So, she too received a Christmas present that would only remind her of all the work she had to do. This year, my Christmas present was in a little envelope halfway up the tree in the living room, and it told me I could go to the store and pick up a leaf blower that my wife and mother-in-law had bought for me.

My honest concern is that, much like the shovel and iron, it is a thoughtful gift, but to the receiver it represents work. It also has the potential for misuse. I have watched some leaf blower handlers blasting the leaves into the streetwhere they hope, by some miracle, they will disappear. On the other hand, I have always subscribed to the theory of keeping the grass short and letting Mother Nature do the work for me, knowing the leaves will eventually land somewhere. I can see one advantage though; I will be able to gather a leaf pile quicker for the grandkids to use as a play area.

Usually, if we are questioned about gifts of this type, the simple reply is, "It is the thought that counts."

I guess I should be thankful that they didn't buy me another plastic leaf rake.