DEAR ABBY: My question has to do with gift giving and receiving. My mother-in-law has a standard reaction after she is given a gift. She scrunches up her face and starts yelling, "I thought I told you no gifties." It's not a polite, "I wish you hadn't spent your money on me." She then proceeds to open the package and starts complaining about the tape, ribbons, etc., her standard comments being, "Do you have any tape left at your house?" or, "I know who wrapped this one!" directed at me. Then she says, "What am I supposed to do with this?" or some other put-down.
I have found myself offering gifts at other times of the year -- something to keep her warm or that she needs -- always unwrapped and casually delivered. My question is, "What's wrong with me?" -- "NO GIFTIES" IN GRAHAM, WASH.
DEAR "NO GIFTIES": What's "wrong" with you is you're a glutton for punishment. This year, take your mother-in-law at her word and "surprise" her by giving her what she has said she wanted all these years: nothing. Then she'll be speechless.