The Best, Worst and Most Surprising Holiday Gifts

By Kathleen Reynolds

Trying to figure out what to give the loved ones in your life this holiday season? Think back. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received, the worst or the most surprising? Here are your neighbors’ memories.

Square cut or pear shape, these rocks don’t lose their shape

“In 2001, while window shopping, I pointed out a diamond ring to my husband and casually stated that it would be a great 20th anniversary present,” says Glenda Machado. “It was six years away, but I’m a planner.”

“A few weeks later, I found a small gift box on my nightstand. I was excited because it resembled the packaging for an individual truffle from a local chocolate shop. I opened the box and was astounded to find the diamond ring I had pointed out.”

“I asked him what it was for. He said, “I don’t want to get you a gift because it is expected or tied to a date; I want to share my love and surprise you.” I smile each time I place the ring on my finger and think of the love we share and the great surprises life has to offer.”

On our 25th wedding anniversary,” says Elisabeth Frater, “Bill handed me a lockbox that contained a diamond solitaire engagement ring – unexpected and breathtaking. It was most special because even though I’d been engaged before, those proposals hadn’t included a diamond ring.”

“My biggest surprise gift was years ago for Christmas,” says Robbie Critchley. “When we first married, I insisted to my husband Don that anything with a cord was an appliance, not a gift. That Christmas, I was completing a woodworking project, and I asked him for diamond drill bits, saw blades and a saw. When he looked at my list of those items, he thought back and couldn’t do it. Instead, I got a diamond necklace.”

Robbie isn’t complaining. “I had someone else cut the wood for my project.”

Vehicles as presents

“I received a vintage ‘54 Chevy as a surprise for my high school graduation,” says Drene Johnson. “It was parked outside a restaurant in San Francisco where we were celebrating. When my father asked if I had my driver’s license with me so I could drive the car home to Marin, he was surprised. I said, ‘I don’t have a driver’s license because I don’t know how to drive.’ My older brother had been driving for a while. I guess Dad thought I’d just pick it up by osmosis.”

“There was a VW Beetle in my driveway on Mother’s Day one year,” says Tracy Lamb. “I wanted one very much. Every time I’d see one, I’d remind my husband of that. Either I manifested my wish, or he finally bought it, so I’d stop mentioning it.”

“I loved the Powell motor scooter I received when I was twelve years old in the 1940s,” says Taya Darrow.

Best childhood gift

“I got my first record player when I was 11,” says Betsy TerAvest. “It came with one record, ‘Johnny Angel’ by Shelley Fabares from 1961. I played that record over and over and everyone in the family was sick of it but knew all the words.”

Robin Sisemore says, “When I was little, I got a Barbie Dream House one Christmas. My cousin and I played with it a lot. One year, I got a floppy doll that was as tall as me. We could strap her feet to mine with an elastic band, and I could dance with her.”

Mary Smith says, “I got a ShirleyTemple doll that I adored.” Mary just turned 100 years old.

“We lived on Mt. Veeder in 1944,” says Marianna Merritt. “I was 4 years old and my dolly disappeared right after Thanksgiving. Dolly was so well loved that the features on her rubber face were mostly worn off. Nobody had much money in those days, certainly not for a new doll. For a month I searched for her and was devastated not to find her. It was with a broken heart that I welcomed Christmas that year. But what did I see under the tree? It was Dolly. My mother had repainted Dolly’s face and made clothing to fit her. There was a sunsuit, pinafore dress, nightie and a suitcase for it all. The neighbor had made Dolly a green coat with a matching hat. Mother

said it was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, watching me search for Dolly.”

Best gifts as an adult

“31 years ago, my firefighter husband, Dick, gifted me a sweet porcelain angel figurine,” says Paulette Newberry. “He said that it would watch over me when he was at work and on numerous strike teams for major fires. It is on a bookshelf in our bedroom, and I see it every day. She has done her job well.”

“My husband Alan and I went to Hotel Del Coronado for an anniversary getaway,” says Kathi Metro. “While there I had a massage at their spa and absolutely loved the bathrobe they provided. I’m not even sure why I mentioned it to Alan. Two weeks after we returned home, he surprised me by having the hotel send me a bathrobe. I was shocked, delighted and surprised by his gift. Even now on cold mornings my sweet husband warms my robe in the dryer and brings it to me.”

For Father’s Day, Dan and Betsy TerAvest’s son, Jason, gave his dad a hammer in a framed box which read, “Dad, thank you for helping me build my life.”

“Dan is a great father and teacher,” says Betsy. “The meaningful words on the hammer say exactly how Jason feels about his dad.”

Darlene Forbes writes, “When I worked at ZD Wines, the owner Rosa Lee deLeuze, told me a surprise was coming. Outside a stretch limo pulled up to take us toSan Francisco for Christmas shopping. I’d never before been in a stretch limo. What a treat!”

“I received the best gift of my life on Christmas in 2008,” says Jan Mauer Watkins. “Phoebe came into our lives with excitement, exuberance, and a pure zest for life. She was a dachshund mix, a skinny little thing, her head almost as big as the rest of her body. Though her body was small, her heart was boundless; her love unconditional, her snuggles warm and comforting.”

“Our time with her was far too short, but her love and spirit will forever remain with us–a reminder of the joy, laughter, and comfort that one little dog brought into our world.”

Then there were the not-so-good choices

“The worst gift I ever got was from my now-husband, John. We’d only been dating for a few months and for Mother’s Day he gave me a rice cooker. It was so impersonal. I wasn’t a fan of rice cookers and only used it once and gave it away. Now it’s a family joke. After that, he knew that the best gift to give me was jewelry.”

“The worst gift was when my husband and I were working in the medical field,” says Drene Johnson. “For Mother’s Day, he gave us matching scrubs. He said he thought my work clothes would be good for lounging around the house. He became my ex-husband.”

“The worst gift I got was from my former husband,” says someone who prefers to remain anonymous. “At Christmas he gave me no gift. He explained he gave gifts when he felt good about giving them, not when the calendar told him to. It was a lesson that expectation only hurts the one expecting it.”

Sometimes, the best gifts are experiences

“The best gift was my late husband, Dean’s, birthday gift for my 70th birthday,” says Jeanne Lumbert. “He rented a house in Mendocino and signed up two art buddies and me for a three-day art class there. We had a great girls’ time making art. He was such a sweetheart.”

Bill Kisliuk writes in an email, “The best present I’ve ever received was when a Napa chef came to our home on my birthday and made an exquisite multi-course meal. If only he’d stayed to clean the leaves out of the rain gutters…”

“I was 47 years old when we lived at Lake Berryessa,” says Darlene Forbes. “I was too young to be a member of the Senior Center but loved them all. Since I was in charge of entertainment, I wanted to give them the gift of the best Christmas show ever. I asked five older men if they’d help me out by doing a line dance. They wore black pants and break-away white dress shirts. The music started and I introduced them as the “Chip ‘n’ Dippers” (instead of the Chippendales). At the end of the dance, they ripped off their shirts. Turned out they all had scars from open heart surgery. The audience erupted into hysterical laughter.”

“On Christmas Day 1995 we journeyed to my wife’s folks for the Christmas Day Feast,” says Daniel Morrelli. “Dad had prepared his traditional holiday menu displayed on a festive dinner table. As we sat down, Dad unveiled his masterpiece turkey. To my utter surprise and delight, for the first time ever, Dad relinquished his knife and asked me to carve the family turkey. What a wonderful honor, what a wonderful gift, what a wonderful memory.”

A reunion can be the best of all

“When I was very young, toys were few and far between,” says India Arnold. “My parents were divorced and seeing my father was minimal, at best. One Christmas however, my heart was full as my father was spending the day with us.”

“Among the colorfully wrapped presents, one stood out due to its large size and shape. I wiggled with excitement when I found out it was for me.”

“I was up first to open presents. I tore through paper and box alike. Inside was ‘Blaze’ a springy riding pony that galloped and clip clopped. I was in pony heaven, and I rode into the sunset every night.”

“A few months later we had to move. We left Blaze behind due to size constraints. I was heartbroken.”

“Jumping ahead 30 years, Christmas came again. I hadn’t seen my father in the intervening years. One Christmas Eve a package arrived with a card attached. The card read, ‘He’s been looking for you.’ I opened the box and inside was Blaze, battered and shabby. I remembered the joy of riding my pony. My father had retrieved Blaze all those years ago, keeping him safe for the years we were estranged. I was touched and taken back to that wonderful Christmas. Thanks to my father, Blaze had finally found his little cowgirl.”

“Just a few days later, my father and I were reunited and ready to begin healing. I thought to myself, ‘He may not be a perfect dad, but he’s the perfect dad for me.’”