Dear Abby: If I don`t get this off my chest I think I will explode. Don`t people think before they buy Christmas presents to send to relatives?
My dear brother was 78 years old, terminal and in a nursing home. The family knew it–it was no secret. He had been there since Oct. 1. Well, one of his nieces sent him a jogging suit for Christmas. Abby, a jogging suit for a 78-year-old terminal patient? Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous?
It was not a matter of mixing up the cards, because the card read,
”Happy jogging, (then his name).” He died the next day. This same idiot niece sent me a 10-quart kettle. I have no intention of opening a boarding house. I can`t imagine where she got the idea that I could use anything like that, as I am a widow and live alone in a small condo.
I know it isn`t proper to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why in heaven`s name do people send such inappropriate gifts?
If they haven`t the time to shop or the brains to select something useful, a gift certificate for even $10 would be so much more appreciated. Thank you. I feel better now.
Disgusted in Ontario.
Dear Disgusted: Selecting appropriate gifts is an art–requiring consideration, sensitivity and imagination. Your niece may be well-
intentioned, but she`s woefully lacking in these qualities.
Dear Abby: ”Mother of the Bride” asked you how long she should wait to tell a couple she had known a long time that she noticed they had attended her daughter`s wedding and reception, but her daughter never received a gift or money from them.
You told her to wait ”forever,” that to mention it would be very poor taste. Wrong!
I think it`s perfectly okay for a person to call a friend to find out if they sent a gift or not. Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents, but don`t use my name.
Glad I did in Omaha.
Dear Glad: I`m glad you`re glad. But I know of no diplomatic way to ask someone if a gift was sent because one was expected, but none was received.
