Today at lunch, we had a short conversation about gift-buying and gift-giving, and sara (who has no website, p’shaw!) mentioned that matt dislikes malls. I said that I would have to agree, in the context of gift-finding. I tend to regard — at least in my own mind — malls as the last refuge for gift-buying. My favorite gifts are those that, while they may not have been expensive, I know that the person who gave it to me put some thought and care into choosing it. For instance, the green and white muffler that Kelly made for me is one of my most prized possessions. The lamp that Hunter and Eve chose for us from the Swanson-Cralle gallery for our wedding I love because they chose it for us, independently (we didn’t ask for it from the wedding registry). Sara also gave us a beautiful vase from Brown County that I believe to be hand-crafted, or at least I’ll operate under that assumption.

In short, it’s the thought that counts to me. You could give me a napkin that said “Happy Birthday” on it, and I’d probably keep it forever.