Your Life, My Thoughts

Xmas with Future Ex-coworkers

Q. Since my supervisor let me use her season tickets for the Eagles last week, I’m officially obligated to get her a gift. Ditto for her colleague, who’s paying for me to come to the holiday luncheon. And as long as I’m faking generosity, I should probably acknowledge the two part-timers in the office too. But I’m a broke grad student, so it’s gotta be on the cheap. FWIW, they’re all women, and all but my 40-ish boss are a step away from (re)retirement.

Grinch-turned-gift-giver

A. Know what I got for Christmas from a coworker this year?  Baked goods. Do you know what I’m advised to no longer eat?  Gluten and dairy. 

 But that’s totally fine. I don’t expect to get world-class gifts from coworkers. No working-class stiff should; certainly not from a grad student.  As long as the recipient can easily pawn it off on someone else, the present itself doesn’t matter. It’s the thought that counts. It’s an honor just to be nominated. I can’t believe it’s not butter. 

With that burden lifted, you can skip over to your nearest strip mall and pick one of the following holiday-themed gifts with your head held high:

1. A holiday sweater from the “returned” aisle at from TJ Maxx 
2. Fruitcake!
3. A VHS copy of Behind the Music: Stevie Nicks  (let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!)
4. A label maker (the gift that keeps on giving)
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “Christmas Don’t Be Late” on vinyl  
6. A hula hoop
7. Old christmas cards repurposed as christmas postcards (hint: cut off the second page)
8. Flu shots
9. Coupons for snow tires
10. Any and everything from the seasonal aisle at the dollar store

P.S. You should really get your supervisor some booze. She’ll need it when the Eagles are in the playoffs.