Holidays have many facets. They represent times of togetherness to commemorate religious, national, and ethnic celebrations. The shopping, the preparation, and the anticipation of these days of the year when we get to coordinate schedules to plan flights and car rides to be with those we hold dear.
The festivities can also be particularly sad when the whole family can’t be together. We know many of our families miss their loved ones who are away working in oil rigs and fields, and others who seem to be more often on the road than off, checking safety equipment across the globe.
If you’ve ever been away working over a holiday, usually the people you are with try to fashion some semblance of celebration – even if just dinner in a local restaurant.
We think it is especially important to send gifts that remind your family member or friend of home – just to share something special and to let them know they are genuinely missed.
Technically, you can’t go wrong with baskets of fruit and flowers. There are plenty of vendors from which to choose; most have sophisticated e-commerce sites that are easy to navigate and you can customize everything from the types of flowers to the cheeses and chocolates so you know their favorites are delivered. And that’s the other convenience….you can easily track the shipment’s arrival and know the package will be given the care that perishable packages should.
The drawbacks? First of all, the shipping is typically expensive. Secondly, for a family member who feels far away at certain times of the year, a seasonal produce and caramel popcorn basket doesn’t seem to carry a great deal of thought or personalization; despite the enclosed card’s sentiment.
The best gifts? Small, silly, ones that show you care. Photos in frames, a tin of homemade cookies, an invitation for a Skype call when everyone can spend virtual time together, an ugly Santa sweater, a classic family ornament, a letter that tells the person what they mean to you, a recount of a significant holiday memory, a plan for a wonderful homecoming, or perhaps a contract signed by family members that Thanksgiving is officially being rescheduled until the recipient’s return! Actually, when it comes to the holidays, the “hokier” and overly sappy the better!
This season, we wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. Cherish your time together; for it is the stuff of memories.