If you ever find yourself forced to sit with me for any length of time around holidays that traditionally involve the exchanging of gifts, you are likely to hear entirely more of my thoughts on the matter than you would most likely prefer.

Ever since I was a little girl, the people in my personal life have requested, begged for, demanded that I submit some sort of list to them of all the various material objects they might be able to obtain for me that would result in my gratitude when the gift exchange tradition occurred.

I learned at a very young age that relatives don’t actually want to get you what you want.

Case in point: I want rhinestones.

I want glitter. I want new UV/LED combo lamps. I want a subscription to a specific European nail magazine. I want some indie nail polishes. I want shiny new cuticle nippers and a cordless drill.

My friends/family inform me that they will not be getting me anything related to work.

When I was in my early twenties, toilet paper was on my gift list — my family didn’t think I was serious.

Not serious?! I was living in an apartment with four roommates and making minimum wage. Toilet paper would have been a very well-received gift!

I’m not the one not taking my lists seriously, the people who don’t want me to want the things I want are the ones not taking my lists seriously!

Why would I ask for things I didn’t want?

I don’t understand why it’s inappropriate to want work-related things? I’d certainly get good use out of them and let’s face it: Whether you spend $20 or $200, it’s money well invested when you spend it on genuine Swarovski crystals sizes 5, 7, and 9. (wink)

Maybe other people just don’t like their jobs enough to ask for work supplies, so they just assume that work-related gifts would be like giving someone a lump of coal.

All I know is that people had better stop asking me what I want if they aren’t willing to get me what I want. Because I want rhinestones!