As none of you here know, yesterday was my birthday. It was a wonderful day, as close to perfect as they come. I got off work early, after my mom brought in a cake and I was sung to, and afterward, my best friend and adopted sister took me out to Chuck E Cheese, since I'd never been before, and it was a ton of fun.
So, that was my birthday. My parents got me just one gift, which was the only thing I kind of wanted, which was a really nice digital camcorder. I was happy, excited, and started reading the instruction manual right away.
But the excitement of that gift paled in comparison to what I received at ten o'clock that night in my inbox. It was a short little poem from my boyfriend. As we live several states apart from one another, it was all he could really give me. His words. And the fact that he put the effort into it to make it rhyme and give it a good rhythm made it all the more special.
And it made me stop, and just... think.
We live in such a materialistic world, where everyone wants shiny new things, new toys to play with. Less and less often do we give to our loved ones gifts that really took some effort, something we made ourselves and really put our hearts into. But it is those gifts that often mean the most to those who receive them.
And really, what do we need fancy cars, expensive jewelry, or the latest electronics for, when we have people who truly care for us? There is no greater joy in life than being able to spend time with the people who make you happy just by being themselves and taking you as you are. It's not about the things we have, really. A truly happy life is one spent with the people you care for, not one filled with the latest and trendiest things.
It's something I feel we all need to remember, and something we can very easily forget in the materialistic world we live in.
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Happy belated birthday!! :-)
What a great gift from your boyfriend! I read that and went "awwww." The personal gifts, poems, handmade cards, etc. are my favorite because they are the ones that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
But... I'll bet that camcorder was really nice too. ;-) Also, you can use it to make gifts for other people. You can send your boyfriend, or far-away friends and family "day in the life" videos and stuff, just to let them know you're thinking of them and are making an effort to include them in your life even though they are far away. :-)
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Hehe, I went "awwwwww," too.
And I'm already going to us the camcorder to make a gift for someone. I shall create the next great Odyssey film for my wonderful mythology teacher! I shall miss his presence much in college. So I shall make a cheesy little movie for him to share with his class!
And I hadn't thought of that "day in the life" video idea... and I rather like it. ^-^
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
What a sweet gift from your boyfriend. I'm glad you enjoyed your birthday!
You're right, sometimes we forget that little, thoughtful gifts can be much better than gifts that cost a lot of money. I spent my birthday away from home and was just glad to get a call from my mom wishing me happy birthday, much more than if she had sent something.
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That is really cool of him. I know my favourite gift was not money, but my little sister telling me how proud she was of me. After all, she was only five. ^_^
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As everyone else said, happy belated b-day!
Heheh, you're such a lucky girl - I really do envy you...not for the camcorder (although I'd love to have one myself XD), but the poem. 
Wish I had someone who would do such things for me ^_^