It won't be long.

Derick,Garland,

I try to flip it around.  I don't ask or even hint at anything I want for Christmas.

I try to keep my ears perked up a little more than usual to what others need cuz.....

"'Tis better to give than receive."    That's the true spirit of Christmas.

TonyKgull, gifts, IME, should be what the giver wants to give the receiver- not what the receiver needs, no matter the occasion.

I'm not saying I have some kind of special gift.

Or that I'm extra sensitive to the feelings of others.

Maybe contrary to my wife's often stated belief otherwise, I am indeed a good listener!

But I get the vibe that Derick ,would like a crossover Nylon string guitar for Christmas.

Derick,Garland,TonyKgull,seagullplayer,

I'll be very grateful for whatever I get, a bag of sweets, pair of socks, pair of underpants or a photograph of a Crossover Nylon strung guitar.

I have actually experienced the opposite.  When the giver gives something that the receiver doesn't need or want, I usually see the old, "Oh......uh.....thank you.   Um......that's very nice of you." sort of thing in response and then you never see or hear of the gift ever again.

When you give the receiver something they actually do need, or want though, you get something along the lines of  "Wow! This is exactly what I was (dreaming for, hoping for, looking at, whatever).  Thanks man!"  or something along those lines.  And, you actually see or hear about them using and/or enjoying the thing because it's something they actually needed or wanted.  Outside of food type gifts that is.

Imho, gift giving is something that is meant to bless the receiver of the gift, not the giver.  Of course there are exceptions to this principle, it's always situation specific.  I'm just generally speaking here.