I have never been able to know what people like and want. I do so so with my kids, especially since Mike and Lauri send me wish lists and Lisa is just fun to buy for, but even with them I agonize over whether they are going to like what I get them. With other people it's just impossible. I've heard and read and thought about lots of ways to overcome this but none of them work that well for me.

One way is to buy what you like. Well, that's ok but I don't think most people are going to like what I like. How many people would like a round trip Greyhound bus ticket? Or a membership in the American Youth Hostels? I have also received, and loved, a subscription to American Heritage, from my son, and some framed photos, from my daughter. How many people even read American Heritage? Or would like great photos?

It gets so much harder if I'm buying for the rest of my family. My father never wants anything and doesn't buy presents himself. I have no idea what my brothers and sister-in-laws and their children want, are into, need, would like. I'm not even sure what size they wear. Size has always been a problem for me. I have to try things on to even know what size I wear since I don't like things that are tight, but if I get them too big the arms and legs are too long.

For work I always just get a cute little ornament of some kind or a household type item. That's pretty safe. Even when you work with someone you don't always know what they would like unless you spent time at their home.

Between the last paragraph and this one I talked with my daughter and she mentioned that her roommate had sent off all the presents to his nieces and nephews. He's one of people who know what to buy and buy it when it's on sale. They must think about it all the time and when they see a good one, they buy it.

This whole issue reminds me of my decorating deficiencies. I can't see ahead of time what would look good and I can't tell ahead of time what would make a good present. After the fact I can tell but unlike decorating, where I can redo it, I can't take a present back and get another one. This is one reason I like mainline stores where the recipient can return something without much trouble.