The Norman Transcript

Opinion

Discussion

October 2, 2012

The card that keeps gives to recipients

By Shirley Ramsey The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Selecting a gift card can’t be easier. Folks getting a gift card should choose the gift they need or like.

“Finally, it’s in the mail,” Ellie tweets her husband at work. “I sent Marty and Celia a gift card. Brilliant, huh?” Sigh of relief.

Ellie meets a friend for lunch. “Why do I feel so guilty?” she says. “I felt good at first, sending a card so they could choose, but now I feel like I betrayed them. I don’t understand.”

“That’s just buyer’s remorse,” Mary tells her. “You’d probably feel the same if you sent anything else.”

“Maybe. But shouldn’t I have spent more time and figured out what they wanted?”

“Well, that would have been nice. But you’ll get over it. Have a piece of chocolate cake.”

Receiving a gift card saves returning a useless gift or wearing a color that makes you look warmed over.

“Wow!” Bryan exclaims, “I got a gift card from my brother. Let me think ... What will I buy with it?”

“Better put some thought into it,” his wife suggests. “There are lots of ways to shop these days. Why don’t you buy something you’ve been wanting, like Western boots.”

“Yeah.” Pause. “But Joe will ask me what I got. I’ll have to be smart, or he’ll think I didn’t use it wisely.”

“What does that matter? It’s your gift.”

“Anyway, I’ll think about it.” Six months later, Bryan still carries the gift card around, always looking, always changing his mind.

Marsha goes shopping online the minute she opens her gift card. It takes her just a few minutes to decide on a gift. Then it takes hours to get a live person to work out the deal. Marsha spends on postage returning the wrong item mailed. She then receives the right gift. Finally, she can’t wait to tell all about it.

Marsha’s friend, like some others, gives a card and never thinks about it again.

“But don’t you want to know what I finally got with the card?” Marsha says to her.

“Not really. Enjoy.”

Excited, Dan tells his girlfriend he got a ticket to a Giant’s game with his birthday card.

She remarks: “You got what with the card? You said you needed clothes. Now I wish I’d taken you shopping, instead.”

Folks smart enough to shop and choose a nice present usually fair better.

“Look at that great desk set. Wouldn’t that look chic on our secretary? Let’s check it out.”

After lengthy discussion, both partners agree on the set.

“I wonder, though, if they’ll ask us what we spent?” one says. “If they ask what we bought, they will know we went over the card. What do you think?”

They buy the set and spin a tale for the gift-giver.

Some know their friends well. Ellie takes her chocolate cake home with her. She immediately cancels the gift card that’s haunting her. She emails her husband about it. Then she enjoys the cake.

Her husband emails back, “Now what?”

Shirley Ramsey, a retired journalism professor, lives in Norman.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion
  • You’ve got to have faith

    Editor, The Transcript: My name is Alice Graham. I live in Leesville, SC and I’m a songwriter/musician. I wrote this song the following morning as I drove to work. I asked the question, “What is it that Moore needs the most today?” and the ...

    May 25, 2013

  • We are disaster central

    Oklahoma is disaster central. Per capita, the state has had more tornadoes and natural catastrophes than any other state. Texas and California have had more but they are much larger and have far more people than Oklahoma....

    May 25, 2013

  • “Free Kate” campaign missing the point

    Apparently, it is not enough to tolerate, accept or even endorse the gay agenda. Now, unless you tolerate and accept criminal behavior committed by gays, you are a hater....

    May 25, 2013

  • Report price gouging

    A report on a national news website claims a store was reported for selling a case of water for $40. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office is investigating....

    May 25, 2013

  • Johnson analyzed issue well

    Editor, The Transcript: I would like to thank Jim Johnson for his thoughtful, thorough and sensible analysis of the gun situation in our country.  He has made a meaningful contribution to what one hopes will become a civilized ...

    May 24, 2013

  • New faces on the bench

    Cleveland County is one step closer to getting another district judge. House members overwhelmingly approved the legislation moving a vacant seat from Seminole County in eastern Oklahoma to Cleveland County....

    May 24, 2013

  • The randomness of it all

    A drive through the fringe streets of the damaged areas in Moore and south Oklahoma City this week shows the randomness of Monday’s tornado. Homes that appear to have little or no damage stand next to ones that are ready to be pushed over....

    May 24, 2013

  • Diana Frost letter correction

    Letter correction: A letter to the editor from Diana Frost, originally published in March 2012, was inadvertently published again in Sunday’s paper. The Transcript apologizes for the error....

    May 23, 2013

  • Teachers should be proud

    Editor, The Transcript: He walked by the camera in his red OU T-shirt, splattered with dirt, hair disheveled, and cuts on his face. He told the reporter about helping rescue people from the rubble of the tornado. He spoke of his experience ...

    May 23, 2013

  • Misinformation clouds global warming

    Next spring I will again have to update my lecture on global warming. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is now rising above the 400 ppm level for the first time in perhaps 5 million years — a scenario humans have never experienced. In my Geology ...

    May 23, 2013