I still remember this gift that I got when I was no more than 5 years old. Talk about leaving an impression. One of my uncle's was in the military station in Korea (1950's).

I got this air rifle that had a plastic ball encased in a metal cylinder at the end of the barrel. It made a tremendous POP! when you pulled the trigger. I remember marching around the house with it on my shoulder and guarding the door.

This is truly an early memory and it left a huge impression on me. I actually have a picture of myself holding the thing. An amazing memory.

 

I remember a Christmas when I was 19 years old and still at home with my parents. They had a very tough year that year and I was the oldest of four children, two of whom were very, very small. My dad had been injured in a hunting accident, was out of work for a looooong time and my parents were beset with heavy medical debts, so I was working and paying them for room and board to help out. I was quite aware that the $40.00 a month I was giving them was making most of their house payment and I was very aware of how hard the times were then. My mother had been quite sad and apologetic to me when she told me that they were not going to be able to do a lot for Christmas due to the situation and I fully understood. Anyway, I bought things for the kids that I knew they wanted, got gifts for my parents, etc. and expected nothing on Christmas Day. When the time came for the exchange of gifts (always it was after a nice family breakfast), to my total shock my parents handed a wrapped box over to me. I was shocked. When I tore into the package there was a beautiful Sunbeam Electric Lady's shaver!! I burst into tears. That was a very long time ago, but I still have that shaver tucked away and I'll never part with it although it hasn't been used for decades. That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.

 

My +1 and I rent an oceanfront home on the Outer Banks of NC every summer. We stay in the town of Duck. I was going through a difficult time and Jim gave me a Waterford crystal duck for Mother's Day, one year. I was so touched--on many levels--by the sentiment expressed in this gift.

 

Marian. Why did that make me ??

 

There have been a couple of memorable Christmases. When I was about 5, my grandmother made a couple of western shirts for me. That was what I really wanted that year and it was even better because my grandmother made them.

More recently, about 9 or 10 years ago, we went to Florida for Christmas. We had inherited my parents house in Tamarac (NW corner of Ft. Liquordale) and we kept it for a vacation home for a couple of years. We invited kids, granddaughter, brother-in-law, etc. +1 smuggled a nasty cold/flu down there with us and distributed it for Christmas.

For the whole week, every time someone sneezed, they followed the sneeze with a "Thanks, Granny".

 

This is precisely why I've been avoiding reading this thread (grudging sentimental softie that I am). Sweet story and so much you.

 

When I was 17 1/2 and Tom gave me a 18 kt pearl "pre-engagement" ring. He didnt' dare call it an engagement ring because he was scared to death of my father at that time and didnt' want to be thrown out of the house on his A#@#!!! I still wear that ring !!!

 

My first new bike. I hadn't outgrown the old bike I had inherited from my brother, so a new bike was completely unexpected.