Expecting gifts

Peoria, Arizona
December 6, 2023 3:35pm CST
This post isn't really about me, it is about a friend who just had a very unfortunate situation. I have a friend who is also an artist, we have been friends for almost a year actually! I adore them, they are such an amazing person. They recently just had their art tablet die of them. They had this tablet forever, and the drivers have officailly outdated and since it is such an old tablet, they drivers are no longer online. I feel SO BAD for them. Losing a tablet as an artist, is like the equivalent of something weird happening to your car, or like some appliance busting. It is a HUGE inconvenience. Like yeah, you can work around it, but it is still just so awful. Thankfully they are going to recieve some money, because they did a favor for a family member, so they are able to get a new tablet, which is good. But they have to wait, and that waiting is pain. However, apparently people have been telling my friend like "Why can't you just buy a new one?" and the one that REALLY bothered me, "Why don't you ask for a new tablet for Christmas?" Look, I know people ask for certain things for Christmas, it is a thing. It really isn't a thing we do in my family...which does make getting gifts difficult, but I HATE asking for things. Like if I want a big ticket item, I want to get it myself. I don't want to be a burden on someone. So I just never ask. But for a person to be like "just ask for one for Christmas!" No? Just no? What if it wasn't Christmas time? Would you tell that person, hey just ask for someone to buy it for you? No, that is so awkward! And also, it is horrible to EXPECT anything as a gift. I never want to expect anything from people!! That just irritated me so much. Expecting a person buying something for you just because it is the holidays. Pfft okay. I do hope my friend gets their tablet soon, because they deserve it, they are so talented with their art. I know how it feels to not have your tablet, it is like an extension of your arm, it is such an important thing to have as an artist.
7 people like this
7 responses
@RasmaSandra (73570)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Dec
I have it very easy I know I won't get any gifts for Christmas and I cannot gift anyone myself so only if Santa arrives I will celebrate Christmas with what I have,
2 people like this
@akalinus (40509)
• United States
13 Dec
@DesirousDreamer Yes, I love that. Family and friends are more important than stuff. It is nice to get a gift sometimes, but it can't be a big part of celebrating anything.
1 person likes this
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
It is the same situation here. It is a lot less stressful when it comes to that haha instead we just enjoy each other's company.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159227)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Dec
Some people just don't see the full picture and just expect things. I hope your friend gets a new tablet real soon. Happy holidays.
1 person likes this
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
Some people are very blind or just very privilege I guess. She was able to get a tablet! We were all very excited!
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159227)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Dec
@DesirousDreamer ......Oh, that's good.
@akalinus (40509)
• United States
13 Dec
@DesirousDreamer I hope she is happy now. Often when you need to do art or writing over, it is much better than the first attempt.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86782)
• United States
10 Dec
Aw I hope they get it soon too. Long wait for the order is it? So sorry to hear about it..I can totally relate.
• Peoria, Arizona
12 Dec
Thankfully it wasn't a long wait! She was able to get it the next day because of Prime! very exciting!
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134475)
• Roseburg, Oregon
7 Dec
I hope they get a new tablet soon.
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
They were able to get their tablet sooner than we thought! So so exciting!
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
7 Dec
The suggestion to ask for a tablet for Christmas might come from a well-intentioned place, but I agree, it can feel awkward and perhaps a bit presumptive. The joy of receiving a thoughtful and unexpected gift often surpasses the anticipation of a requested one.
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
10 Dec
@DesirousDreamer Gifts are about thoughtfulness and consideration, not creating discomfort. Hopefully, your friend gets their new tablet soon, and the kindness of others shines through without any unnecessary expectations.
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
I think if a person doesn't know someone's monetary situation, it shouldn't be a suggestion. It makes the person just feel even worse.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40509)
• United States
6 Dec
Do you know if your friend backed up her work anywhere? Maybe she has some on a thumb drive or saved in her email or account like OneDrive? If she can investigate those, maybe she can recoup some of her art.
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
It is a drawing tablet, not a tablet that you read or work on. That was the problem. Thankfully she had a new tablet now.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40509)
• United States
13 Dec
@DesirousDreamer That is a real problem. If she is even a little computer savvy, she can scan her pictures as she finishes them. She could save them on a computer or phone so she can recoup her work if anything happens to her new tablet.
@AmbiePam (85659)
• United States
6 Dec
Those questions make me want to ask, do you think I’m made of money? Or as for as asking someone else to buy it, no way. My dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I said a Golden Girls calendar (I know, weird). Even though he asked me, I would never pick anything that wasn’t cheap. I am never going to pick, even when asked, something that costs very much.
• Peoria, Arizona
9 Dec
Yeah there is nothing wrong with simple cute gifts. Like if a person is in a situation where they can ask for big ticket items, then I guess it is okay, but I still feel like it is just too much. If I want something that is expensive, I want to be able to buy it myself, because it is just too much.
1 person likes this