Pickles by Brian Crane for December 20, 2022

Sylvia maybe Earl would like a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. My dad is 90. He likes a taste every now and then.

Give the shirts to a homeless shelter or Goodwill or something instead of letting them sit.

Picky, picky. Not so materialistic either.

I always ask for G-rated and funny tee shirts. Usually I get something that meet’s at most one of the criteria, though last year a got a great XKCD tee shirt from my youngest grandkid.

I wear them to dances, thus inviting people to mention my shirt… or just gaze at my chest :)

Contra dances. My uniform is shorts and a tee shirt. You can work up a pretty good sweat dancing contra.

The correct answer is “consumables.”

Earl is often shown reading, so buy him a subscription to a magazine/newspaper

Sounds like he could use some more drawer space

Buy him a new dresser

Buy him a wig.

Just go to his drawer and get a shirt from a couple years ago. He will be happy to have a new shirt to add to his collection and saves time and money.

My goodness that’s me! I like to wear the old ones out first!

Many years ago, we did a gift exchange where we exchanged names. Each person was to put some suggestions of what they might like (or find useful) to get on a piece of paper with their name. My Dad listed two items – but the way he wrote them it looked like it was one. We did not get him a “shirtwrench” – but I sure remember it.

Told the family again this year – nothing I need or want, so don’t do a gift for me. Just to bring themselves, some fun food, and lots of hugs. Those memories last a good long time and never just collect dust in a closet.

Anything from the cannabis shop.

What I tell my family. Gift cards. It’s all you’ll get from me.

Buy Earl a gift he can give to his lovely wife Opal. That way he doesn’t have to think about what to buy her. Earl’s character about the easy way through life.

So, you’ve discovered he doesn’t want shirts. What does he like? Figure it out and buy that.

So what should Sylvia get for the man who has everything? Nothing, of course.

Save the money and put it in a scholarship for Nelson under Earl’s name then!

Be grateful he’s not a clergyman. How many bottles of wine and pairs of socks can you get a man who doesn’t smoke or wear neckties?

Exactly what we found in my grandfather’s drawers after he died.

I’ve known my Mrs for over 20 years, married for 17 of those. Exactly TWICE have I given her a gift she was not aware of, and did not return for something else. This year she purchased another $700 pair of shoes she will never wear.

All I want for Christmas is for the television repairman to return my wide-screen, SmartTV that he’s been fixing for over two months!!

Now that the World Cup is over, I reckon he’ll find the mysteriously difficult-to-replace capacitor (or whatever) somewhere, and I’ll get the television back – no doubt along with his bill, which he’ll want me to immediately pay!

That is SOOoooooo sad…….

A ten pound fruit cake. He’ll be gnawing on the thing ’till midsummer.

We started getting my parents gift cards to restaurant chains that they like

Why is it that people feel that they have to ignore your wishes. I, like Earl, don’t want anything for Christmas either, but I know it won’t end up that way. I have what I need/want and if there is something I want I go out and buy it.

The only ones that ever listened were my in-laws. They asked for their usually Christmas list from everyone. Mine had one thing on it. “Give what you would spend on a gift for me to a charity of your choice that can use the donation.” They did. It was the one gift that year that actually meant something to me.

After my FIL died, we found 117 shirts in his closet. Many had the Kohl’s 90% off yellow tags. He couldn’t pass up a deal.

We give to a charity

Each year, as a tradition I started in my twenties until Dad died, I used to send him some food from a catalog, and he used to stash it in his cupboards (so he said). When I visited him for a while, I found out he really appreciated what I got him (though I secretly think he gave some away to his friends)

Think of all the nice shirts you’ll be able to donate to Good Will/Salvation Army . . . there DOES come a time when we older folks just don’t need or want Christmas presents. Buying stuff for Christmas is just a gimmick businesses thought up. . .

The correct answer is… Microcenter gift cards. Papa needs a new computer.

How about another chest of drawers?

LOL! It’s true! What do grandmas and grammas need?

The best gift is to be with my family!

Get him a bigger house so he’ll have room for all the stuff people get him.

Just get Opal to get you one of those un-opened shirts and give it to him again, win/win: Save money on another unused gift and he’ll never know!

My DIL asks for events or experiences for my granddaughters — a trip to the aviary or museum, or a pottery class. Lots of fun for everybody, plus memories and something different. Works for grownups too!

I told my adult kids while I welcome and appreciate gifts, I want NOTHING to end up in a rummage or estate sale. I always welcome Culver’s or Starbucks gift cards, super-hot salsas, consumables.

Sylvia could offer to accompany Opal to the fabric store in Earl’s place for the upcoming year. I’m sure Earl would appreciate that, and Sylvia might even enjoy it occasionaly.

Hey, we senior-seniors know what we want. Only 10-minutes ago I did.

Get him an empty drawer.

Then buy dad a snack he likes and he will be happy.

A hug on arrival, another on departure, repeat.

I know the feeling. My mother is hard to shop for anymore.

Huh, it’s opposite for my mom and grandpa, he wears every shirt she gets him. Course it’s always flannels, which he lives in