Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/905908
18 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2017 By Theresa Rossetti, Resident Well, here we are in December. No matter what traditions you follow, somewhere in this month you will be gift shopping and receiving. Even those of us who may have been proactive and shopped early for relatives and friends will find themselves invited to some event where a small gift is required. Wine is often a go-to in these situations but it's not the only answer to the holiday conundrum of "What the heck am I bringing to this goofy gift exchange?" A fellow committee member told me a story about attending a "Re-gifting Party." I'd never heard of this, so took to the internet, where all information is true, to research. A re-gifting party is a form of the "Yankee Swap." They have similar rules, involving bringing a wrapped gift, drawing a number, selecting a gift by the lowest number to the highest, and the opportunity to "steal" an already picked gift or choose a wrapped one. Seems simple, and variations can be the gifts must be goofy, they must be hobby/craft related, etc. The "re-gifting" involves bringing a gift you've already received and don't really want, instead of buying something new. Well, simple or not, these types of exchanges can have hidden pitfalls and sometimes disastrously funny conclusions. At the Re- gifting party my fellow member went to, she picked up a lovely "Weeping Buddha" statue which had particular meaning to her at the time. She was quite happy with the gift, BUT, it seems that the partner of the person that chose this item to be re-gifted was not happy with that choice at all! After a bit of back and forth, and a door slamming, she got to keep the Buddha, and hopefully the couple is still together and blissfully happy. This reminded me of a lovely item my spouse brought home from a Yankee Swap. One year he wound up with a boxed hand mixer. Since I like to bake, he thought this might be something I would use. The box looked rather old, with the look that cardboard gets after it's been hanging around for several years. I opened the box, removed the hand mixer, saw that the mixer was caked with dried batter or potatoes or some other mystery food stuff. That gem went back into the box and right into the trash! So, the moral of these stories is, make sure the gift you gift or re- gift is something you are happy to give up, is something you'd be okay with receiving, is something that anyone significant in your life won't be mad about if you give it away, and, for heaven's sake, make sure if it was used you wash it before wrapping it up! Guess that bottle of wine or gift card is looking real good right about now. Happy gifting! 'Tis The Gifting Season Bellies full of soup what more can you ask for! Our Soup Du Jour party turned into an instant classic here at Solera Diamond Valley. Special thanks to all our volunteers for their much needed help. We would like to also thank management for helping with the event. Truly a special added touch to the event. You can be assured this event will be on the books come 2018! NO SOUP FOR YOU!