Here, I made this for you
How often do we here these words in our modern, consumer-driven society? For most people, I bet it’s not very often, which is why I was so surprised when my coworker Tsutsui-san presented me (and several other translators who work in the same office) with a scarf that she made herself. The notion that anyone would spend a week or so of their own free time making a gift for someone comes as a bit of a surprise—which is both a testament to Tsutsui-san’s kind-heartedness and a criticism of modern life, in which gifts are all too often simply another thing you purchase.
I am a bit envious of Tsutsui-san’s creative ability, partly because it calls attention to the fact that I have very few creative skills of my own. I could help her set up her own weblog, but that’s hardly in the same league. So, readers, help me out here: What meaningful gifts can geeks give?
