Monthly Archives: October 2025

The Ups and Downs of Gift Giving (AI generated as an example)

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Looking at Why We Give Presents—and What Can Go Wrong

Introduction

Gift giving is something pretty much everyone does, no matter where you’re from. Whether it’s for birthdays, holidays, or just because, giving and getting presents is a part of life. It usually makes people happy and brings us closer together, but sometimes it can get a little complicated. Let’s take a look at the good sides and the not-so-great parts of giving gifts.

Pros of Gift Giving

  • Makes Relationships Stronger

Giving someone a present is a simple way to show you care. It can help build stronger bonds and make people feel loved or appreciated. Whether it’s family, friends, or coworkers, a thoughtful gift can go a long way in making your connection even better.

  • Spreads Kindness and Gratitude

Handing out gifts encourages people to be generous and thankful. It feels good to give, and it feels good to be given something nice. A well-chosen gift can make someone’s day and even help you feel happier too.

  • Cultural Traditions

A lot of cultures have special traditions for gift giving—think Christmas, weddings, or big life events. These moments bring people together and help everyone feel connected to their community.

  • Makes You Think About Others

Picking out a gift (when you’re not rushing) means you have to think about what the person actually likes or needs. It’s a great way to practice being thoughtful and pay attention to what’s going on in other people’s lives.

Cons of Gift Giving

  • Can Hit Your Wallet Hard

Let’s face it—gifts can get expensive. Big holidays or special events sometimes make people feel like they have to buy fancy stuff they can’t really afford. This can lead to stress or even spending money you shouldn’t.

  • Misunderstandings Happen

Sometimes your gift doesn’t quite land. Maybe you guessed wrong about what someone wanted, or maybe they just don’t like surprises. The wrong gift can make things awkward or even upset someone.

  • The Pressure to Give

There are times when people give gifts because it’s expected, not because they genuinely want to. Feeling like you “have to” can take away the fun and make the whole thing feel less special.

  • Not Always Eco-Friendly

All the wrapping paper, bags, and packaging that comes with gifts can create a lot of trash. Plus, buying and shipping stuff takes energy and resources, which isn’t always great for the planet.

Conclusion

Gift giving is a tradition that can make life sweeter and relationships more meaningful. But it’s not always sunshine and rainbows—sometimes it’s stressful, expensive, or even a little wasteful. The best gifts are the ones given with real thought and care, not just because you feel like you have to. So next time you’re wrapping something up, remember: it’s the kindness behind the gift that really counts.

**All in all, this is not an awful essay. It was completely generated by AI,so I make no claim as to authorship.

This was an experiment. I used to teach high school students with learning disabilities. Using AI, they can now generate reports acceptable in their classes. Unfortunately, I takes no effort from them and most likely doesn’t use words or phrases they normally include in their work.

A Conversation with my Cat

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I haven’t sat down with her and discussed her life.

I wonder where she was before she came to live with us.

Was her owner kind?

Did she feed the cat her favorite food?

Brush her fur?

Take her to the vet?

Bingo talks all the time.

She complains about food she doesn’t like.

She meows when she wants more than what we give her.

She yodels after pooping…is that her pride coming out?

Bingo’s vocabulary isn’t one I know or could master in a college class.

Nevertheless, I think I know what she’s saying.

Bingo, despite her age, can still leap onto kitchen counters

Squeeze into tiny places

Sleep on top of the oven or curled up inside the fruit bowl.

We couldn’t find her one day. Searched all her usual spots.

Found her in the coat closet, behind the vacuum cleaner.

Bingo must not have liked that hiding place, as she has never gone back there.

I like when she gets close enough that I can rub the top of her head.

Scratch under her chin. Run my hands down her back,

Even though feeling her spine worries me.

Bingo just turned fifteen.

How much longer will we have her?

She appears healthy, but we know that her kidneys are impacted.

Her teeth are badly in need of brushing,

But to do so, she’d have to be put under.

That’s too risky at her age.

Sometimes Bingo takes a stroll in front of my computer.

She’ll stand blocking my view of the monitor.

Or sit on the keyboard.

Or in my lap.

Making it impossible for me to work.

But I don’t care because she makes me smile.

Her purr warms my heart, makes me feel needed.

There’s something special about a cat’s love.

They take more than they give.

They offer tidbits of acceptance,

But we gush over them, brag about them,

Share photos of them, tell stories about them

As if they are our kids.

They are, in a way.

A Halloween Memory

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            The only part of Halloween that I ever liked was the endless pursuit of free candy. From the time my brother and I were in middle school in rural Ohio, we roamed miles from home. We walked on streets whose names I never knew, knocking on the doors of anyone with lights still on. It took us hours, and at times our pillow case sacks were so heavy that we had no option but to go home, empty them out, then head out again.

            I hated wearing costumes. Perhaps because I wore glasses, masks blocked my sight. I detested makeup and most of all, despised trying to come up with something to wear that could become a costume. My fallback was that of a hobo as all I had to do to play the part was put on my well-worn overalls.

            When I was thirteen my middle school decided that for Halloween, all students had to dress in costume. I immediately panicked. It was bad enough to traverse my neighborhood under cover of darkness, but now I would have to parade about campus under the horrific glare of fluorescent lights.

            I stewed over this for days.

I was a painfully shy, the girl who never raised her hand to ask or answer questions. I slithered down in my desk seat, my nose skimming the top of my desk, believing that if I couldn’t see the teacher, she couldn’t see me.

Dressing up at school had the potential to sink me even lower on the social scale, especially if I appeared in an unpopular or outmoded costume.

            When the day arrived, the only thing I could come up with was my mother’s WAC (Women’s Army Corp) uniform from World War II. It fit a bit snug, but I figured I could tolerate anything for the length of the festivities.

            In the morning I squeezed into the uniform, then trudged off to the bus stop. I was used to belittling looks, so the shrugs and smirks had little impact.

However, what seemed like a good idea in the morning, quickly became a terrifying experience at school.

            My teacher, thrilled to see the old uniform, made me stand in front of the class and share my mother’s story. Unfortunately, I knew little about her service.

I did know that she enlisted because her family was poor. She chose the WACs because her older brother was in the Army. Because of the few black-and-white photos she shared, she was stationed in Florida where she learned to work on trucks.

            I figured that when my presentation time was done, I could return to my desk. Not so. My teacher was so excited about the old uniform that she sent me up and down the hall, into every single classroom, upstairs and down.

I was so terrified that I squeaked out only a few words and wouldn’t have even got them out if it weren’t for the prompting of every teacher, in every classroom.

As the day progressed, the uniform got tighter, And the heavy wool brought out as much sweat as a humid summer day. Perspiration pooled under my arms and down my face. It soaked the collar and the waistband of the skirt.

When lunch came, I was allowed to change clothes.

            It was such a horrible experience that I did not go out trick-or-treating that night and for several years after.

     Ode to Food

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Food, glorious food!

Sumptuous tastes of

Slowly roasted beef

Drowned in onions

Covered in gravy

Potatoes gently

Browned, sprinkled

With parsley and chives

Arranged in spirals in

Delicate designs

Green beans bathing in

Mushroom sauce, topped

With fried onions

Or drenched with butter

Stacked like lucky logs

Delightful desserts

Sugary cookies

Mouth melting cakes

Devilish custards

Compelling desire

More, much more, awaiting

Consumption by

Mere mortals yearning

To taste the nectar

Of the golden gods

Food, glorious food!