Presents and their purpose
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31365)
Denmark
December 25, 2010 5:48am CST
Many years ago my parents were celebrating a party and they received many presents. One of those presents was a small bowl, and they talked a lot about that present, because they had no idea what it was. An ashtray? No, it didn't really look like one. A candleholder? No, it is didn't look right if they placed a candle inside it. A snack tray? No, it seemed too small for that. An object with no particular purpose just meant for decoration? No, probably not.
My mother wrote personal thank you notes to all their friends, and she had no idea what to write to the people who gave them that bowl, because she couldn't mention the name of the thing that they had received. She didn't want to write "thank you for the ashtray" if it wasn't an ashtray 
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't know what the purpose of the present was when you unwrapped it? How did you handle the situation?
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't know what the purpose of the present was when you unwrapped it? How did you handle the situation?1 person likes this
4 responses
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
25 Dec 10
I agree with that, but I think that my parents were too embarrased to ask or afraid that the giver would get offended. Instead of asking the giver they asked everyone else who came for a visit what they thought that it was, but that didn't help much, because everyone had a different opinion Even today they don't know what it really is.
Even today they don't know what it really is.
@aylim14 (501)
• Philippines
25 Dec 10
oh definitely. I have this one gift i received in a party i attended. It looks like a gold ball with 4 small clubs that can fit into it. At the end of the clubs are flat-like spatulas. I really do not know what they are. I am thinking they are some sort of butter knife. But if you slide them back into the golf ball, the "butter" or anything you might have used it on will be stuck on the inside of the ball. And there is no opening where you can open and clean the ball.
3-4 years have passed and i still do not know what it is. So i have been in that situation and just say thank you for the gift. Then ask what it is if given the chance. :)
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
25 Dec 10
That sounds mysterious. If you can't clean the ball, it is not good to use it for butter or something like that. Maybe it has a different purpose, but I can't imagine what it could be...
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
26 Dec 10
Hi Potcospino,
That was a funny and at the same time embarrassing presentation. One should not give any presentation which have no use. I did not face similar situation. Without mentioning the name of the thing your mother could write only 'Thanks' in her thanks giving note.
1 person likes this
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
25 Dec 10
I have never not known the purpose of a gift that was given. I have had the thought of why would i ever need one of these, or why did you think that I really wanted that color of an item. For the items where i really did not want, I said thank you, for whatever gift it was. I appreciate your kindness in sending it.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
25 Dec 10
I have also received some gifts that I didn't really need, but I still appreciate the thought and I think that is was nice of the person to send me something. In the past I had many penpals and we sometimes sent eachother presents at christmas. One of them once sent me some clothes that didn't fit me. As she had bought it in her own country it wasn't possible to get another size, so I gave it to a friend, but I think appreciate the thought 
