It was my 55th birthday last Sunday. My dp gave me a bottle of Tom Ford Oude Wood- I love it. My 22 year old son hid some earrings in his room and called me to tell me to go into his little money box and find them- it was so sweet. My mum called me and told me there was a parcel of "goodies on its way". The parcel arrived today. Inside is a tight knit pastel striped sweater, a grey scarf that looks like a mantilla only not as nice and a peice of jewellery from Marks and Spencer. They all look like they came from the charity shop - none are to my taste and I will never wear any of them. She does this every year- one year it was a used bra that her sister had given her and she had passed on to me!
I will call her and tell her they are lovely. But I want to take them directly to the charity shop and not have to store them for two years before I then take them to the charity shop. They are not suitable for regifting as everyone I know would know that I would never buy such awful things.
I am not ungrateful- I know she wants to get it right but she has never given me anything I have liked unless I was with her when she bought it. I was joking with my dp the other day that the parcel would contain something dreadful and he was trying to get me to believe that this time it would be something beautiful, but no, it is all hideous. I know that if I became incapable of dressing myself and my mother had to help me, she would turn me out in a navy blue pleated skirt, a white broiderie anglais blouse and american tan tights with lace up shoes. My style is Cos for work and Anthropology boho for relaxing. I am 55 not 5 or 155.
I get her a huge bunch of lovely flowers delivered for her birthday most years as she has a wardrobe of navy pleated skirts and white blouses and needs no more. I would love flowers for mine. She has drawers full of cheap jewellery she never wears and she is trying to make my house full of her own crap.
Please tell me it is ok to take it straight to the charity shop without a second thought.