| What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding | | | | Mothers Day.For my bridal shower, a family friend |
| gift? I asked Kristin, my bridesmaid and | | | | gave me two journals: one for Anthony, one for me. |
| person-who-was-married. I mean, what kinds of | | | | On the card, she wrote her instructions: We were to |
| things do brides give their grooms? I was thinking of | | | | write in our journals every day, and exchange them |
| hiring someone to clean the house before we left for | | | | on our first anniversary.Your words dont have to be |
| the honeymoon so wed come back to a spotless | | | | published to be gifts. You can design your own prints, |
| house. Is that a good wedding gift?Um, no, she said | | | | cards, banners, and books on your computer, or go |
| gently, so as not to make me feel like an idiot. It | | | | truly hand-made and pick up a pack of construction |
| should be something personal. Like, you could paint | | | | paper and markers.If you want to get fancy, you |
| him a picture, or make a scrapbook, or write him a | | | | can hire an artist to make you a cover or design |
| poem...A poem? Why, I had at least a dozen poems | | | | your work for you. Finding them couldnt be simpler: |
| Id written about him that hed never seen. And if I | | | | try Googling illustrators, graphic designers, or artists |
| wrote a few more, Id have a whole chapbook!Thats | | | | and see for yourself!You may write and self-publish |
| exactly what I did. Over the next couple of months, | | | | your family history as a gift for all your relatives and |
| I wrote more poems. I wrote the final one the day | | | | future generations. Print-on-demand companies make |
| before our wedding, capturing my feelings on the | | | | this an affordable option if you shop around and do |
| eve of our marriage. Then I printed them out, | | | | away with the extras.You may use a program like |
| three-hole-punched them, made a cardstock cover, | | | | Greetings Workshop to design a calendar. You can |
| and tied the pages together with ribbon.On our | | | | insert your own photos and poems or short |
| wedding day, I took him aside after our ceremony | | | | sentiments, and even write in your own imaginative |
| and read him the last poem. It was a perfect gift.But | | | | holidays.Write your own romance, starring you and |
| you dont have to wait for such a monumental | | | | your significant other, as an anniversary gift. (Could |
| occasion to use writing as a gift. One of my friends | | | | be a short story, or a novella if youre feeling |
| writes childrens books and illustrates them, then gives | | | | ambitious!)Write a story to be read every Christmas |
| them to her grandkids on their birthdays. A | | | | as a new family tradition.Write an inspirational poem |
| successful greeting card publisher started out her | | | | for a relative whos in the hospital.Write a limerick to |
| business because she used to write original cards for | | | | stick in your daughters lunchbox.At the local printer, a |
| all of her family and friendsthey loved them so much | | | | personalization shop, or several places online, you can |
| that they encouraged her to offer her sentiments to | | | | have your words made up into a t-shirt, mug, poster, |
| the masses.Ive also donated personal essays to | | | | bumper sticker, magnet, or plaque. Its wonderful to |
| anthologies, just so I could give the book as a gift to | | | | find that strangers enjoy your published words, but it |
| the person the essay was about. I wrote a love | | | | can be even nicer to find that your words can light |
| letter to Anthony and sent it off to be published in | | | | up your childrens eyes, or your spouses, or your |
| the anthology Love Letters of a Lifetime, then gave | | | | parents. A gift of your talent and your heart is |
| it to him for Valentines Day.A poem I wrote for my | | | | generous, and more meaningful than anything you |
| grandmother was made into a plaque by the James | | | | could get at the local mega-mall. Spend some time |
| Lawrence Company. A poem to my mother was | | | | today writing for someone you love. |
| made into a plaque as well, which I gave her for | | | | |