buy me more - love you more

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things -
Why it's hard to buy gifts for friends

apparently, the more you know someone, the harder it is to buy presents for them. the december edition of the journal of consumer research suggests that familiarity is a killer.
reading this article got me to thinking about my recent birthday.
there seems to be an increasing trend of less gift giving. even by those considered to be a part of the extreme inner circle.
maybe its harder. i dont think so. i think its just laziness on behalf of my males who think they can get away with a smile and a wink.

i made a list .. those i would have expected something from and how they did;

mom.
usual behaviour - something i have lusted after before the day and then flowers/card/song on the day.
this year - check.
present provided before birthday, song on day.

dad.
usual behaviour - perhaps a card. phone call.
this year - check.
no card but phone call received.

brother ewi.
usual behaviour - phone call or text. present arrives sometime (he lives in london so time factor added in).
this year - check.
text (so i called him) and present in the mail.

brother jazel.
usual behaviour - phone call or text. sometimes a card.
this year - check-ish.
simple text. no response to my response. christmas present decreasing in size daily.

man i am dating
usual behaviour - phone call. also has previously provided wonderful presents i may or may not have hinted at. received birthday present that took a lot of thought and was personally tailored to his current object of enjoyment ('65 impala).
this year - FAIL.
phone call in the morning. good. turned up to evening drinks. good. no present. apparently he got me what i asked for. seems that was nothing.


best friend - sarah
usual behaviour - text, email, phone call.
this year - check +
phone call, text and present. very very good. gets extra large present for christmas.

friend - nell
usual behaviour - (bearing in mind we are new-ish friends) - phone call, in person greeting, present.
this year - check ++
early present, greeting in person, bottle of veuve clicquot. gets extra large present for christmas.

moral of this story.
yes, how much i love you is based on what you buy me for my birthday.