Last night I realized that I had not yet written thank you notes for the engagement and graduation gifts that I had received from friends and family. As I sat here for nearly an hour trying to make what I find to be a nonsensical tradition meaningful (by what I wrote inside), I stumbled into a particularly bitter state of mind.Before graduation, it is traditional to send out graduation announcements. Then, the person who receives the announcement is expected to either show up with a gift or send one. Then, the recipient of the gift is supposed to write a thank you for the rather appreciated show of generosity. Let's examine this process a bit more thoroughly.
I send the announcements. If those who received the announcements do not with to break from societal norms (which could often result in a casting off by those who learn of their societal deviance) they WILL send a gift. And then, after shaking off my shock from the receipt of the gift, will write a thank you note for such an amazing act of generosity . . . but was it really generosity? Or was it just a reaction to the announcement they found in their mailbox?
The whole process seems quite ridiculous . . . but alas . . . I will of course be sending out invitations to my wedding in many months, and there will be a similar reaction. Over analyzing gift giving . . . what a day!
2 comments:
Hey, Manders. I loved your bit on societal expectations. Part of me wants to go comment about all that, but what this entry really made me think of was sort of another side of the gift-giving thing, esp for weddings.
Being a single (meaning unmarried) gal, it sucks trying to start up a home by yourself, because there is no party/shower for you to receive gifts. Sure, you can have a house-warming party and get gifts, but those gifts are usually wine, etc., and you sure as hell don't have a registry to rely on! I noticed how frustrated I was when buying all the supplies I needed for my new home. I had to get everything all by myself, but if I were getting married, I would have people buying all that stuff for me.
It is interesting that, if I remain single, I will miss out on all those gifts that people receive when they choose a traditional lifestyle/pattern of life events (i.e., engagement, wedding, children, etc.). I feel like you get jipped if you choose a non-traditional lifestyle. It's like society has geared us to continually follow the same pattern of marriage followed by kids, etc. It's a scary world for those of us are lagging in traditional milestone life events!
So it seems rather than to break the system, use it to your advantage. I propose a solution to the above problem. Find a reasonable friend of the opposite sex and marry that person. Establish a home together using the gifts that you recieve. Enjoy the time as roommates for about six months while you build up other needed items and a stockpile of cash. After that point, part ways and divide up the supplies as appropriate. If you the play the game well enough you might even get some sympothy gifts for the "failed love."
I say if society continues to force us to adhere to these traditions we might as well make every use possible of the system. Plus, a fake honeymoon can make for a nice vacation from work.
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