Gift-ed

Whoever invented the gift coupon, (or voucher), certainly did Humanity a favour.
The gift voucher bypasses all worries over individual taste, sizes, the already-has-it syndrome, the trauma of wrapping awkwardly shaped gifts, and spares you the gift-recycler’s favourite nightmare – that you’ll give unto others that which they gave you in the first place.

And yet, as always, the scenario isn’t perfect.

Especially with regard to coupons and vouchers won in competitions (or for merely having chosen to sit at Table No. 45).

Here’s where Fate, always ready for a laugh at your expense, gets going.

Like presenting you a year’s supply of plant food when your entire garden consists of two potted palms in a particularly small balcony.

Or gifting a young person a romantic dinner for two for having been the only one at the quiz who could spell ‘Popocatepetl’ in two seconds (while also being geographically correct).
Ironic, considering that this young person, having just suffered a horrendous break-up in a blaze of anger, recrimination and tears, was there purely by accident while wandering about aimlessly looking for a place to drown his sorrows, and had put up his hand to draw the attention of a waiter.

Yet another sad facet of the human condition – beware of Life bearing you gifts.