etherfarm

Thirty-two short films about me

Later

11:10 on Thursday, January 06, 2005 • 5 responses

Earlier

It’s my birthday, and I’m not the kind of person who likes getting presents. In fact, I kind of hate it. One, for quite some time I’ve had very little space at my residence, to the point that receiving even a new kitchen knife would require some serious rearranging of furniture. Two, there’s nothing I really need. Three, I’ve never understood how purchasing some mass-produced item for someone else qualifies as a token of friendship; “Here, you mean so much to me I’ve purchased you an item made on an assembly line in China!”

To avoid getting presents, I’ve had to become creative in recent years. I generally try to leave the country during the holidays. If I sense someone is scheming to get me something, I try and cut them off by getting it for myself. I couldn’t be more serious when I say that I consider it a major accomplishment in my life that many of my friends have just given up the idea of trying to get me anything on any occasion.

I detest few things more than the idea of a wedding registry. Why anyone would use the occasion of forging a love-based partnership with another as an opportunity to have other people shop for them is beyond me. So for our wedding last year, the wife and I asked people not to give any presents at all. Some people privately expressed dismay at this idea, so in a small sign of well-meaning protest we set up a wedding registry at justgive.org and those that gave gave generously. We raised a few thousand dollars for causes we consider important, and it’s hard not to feel good about that.

In any case, I’m using my thirty-second birthday (today) as impetus to cash in on whatever karma I’ve accrued by eschewing gifts over the years by asking you to donate to a worthy cause or two, even if it’s only a buck.

I know many of you have already donated to relief efforts in Asia, so I have a few other charities on my list. Virtually all of my friends wouldn’t hesitate to offer to buy me a birthday dinner; I ask you to channel that money elsewhere on this occasion. Justgive.org has lots of information online on how to make your donation work for you tax-wise.

Thanks!