Western Pennsylvania Mensa presents.... A Really Good Gift

Yesterday Phil and I were spreading wood ashes on our vegetable gardens. We both had our fireplaces going the night before. Ahhh, there's nothing like a cozy fire on a cold winter night. Our gardens enjoy the fires as much as we do, since the ashes are an excellent source of potassium.

We got to talking over the fence, and I started complaining about how I rarely give just the right gift to anybody at Christmas. Something that looks just perfect to me ends up being too small or the wrong color or totally repulsive to the sophisticated tastes of the recipient. Phil looked me in the eye and motioned me to come closer. He glanced to see if anyone else was in hearing distance and then asked me, in a very secretive voice, "How would you like to give somebody a reeeeally good gift this Christmas?"

I suspiciously looked around and whispered back, "Is it legal?"

He replied, "It is if you're over 18." Ooooh, this gift was sounding better every minute. Phil went on, "This gift is always the right color. It's always the right size. It's always something the recipient can really use. And whoever receives it will be thanking you for a long time."

"Hold it. How much? I'm not Bill Gates, you know. I went over my Christmas budget two weeks ago."

"It only costs one hour of your time."

"Wow! Things are hectic, but I think I can swing that. So what is this reeeeally good gift?"

Phil took a step back, looked me in the eye and said, "The really good gift is…blood."

What a smart guy! Sometimes Phil surprises me. It turns out that he and his wife give blood every December. I'm going to the Blood Bank this afternoon. Phil tells me that giving at the Blood Bank is a lot more comfortable than giving at church or the high school. Instead of folding tables, the blood bank has cushy recliners and TV.

Maybe you'd like to give a really good gift this Christmas. It only takes an hour of your time, and you'll be joyful about that present all through the holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!