Surprise birthday gifts.

[baratron]

I received an early birthday present today. It's a box set of books, sent by one of my livejournal friends - someone I first met on another online community and have spent a small amount of time with in person, but who I've got to know primarily through livejournal. I'm really very pleased with this present, not least of all because it was totally unexpected.

I learned a long time ago not to judge how much someone cares about me by how much money they've spent on me. The most expensive present would be worthless if it was something unsuited to who I am, and a tiny trinket could be immensely valuable if it came from someone I love. Giving me presents is never obligatory and I don't want people to try to prove something by gift-giving.

But I can't help but feel pleased that people want to give me things.