Finding the Perfect Gift? Priceless

I'm always perusing catalogs in search of a gift that might be fun, interesting, or unusual. Sure, gift cards are convenient as anything and appropriate in certain situations, but for family and close friends, gift cards are too impersonal, too easy. They say, "I was standing in line at Safeway and as I pulled out my Safeway Rewards card to save 80 cents on this six-pack of toilet paper, I saw an iTunes gift card and thought of you. Happy birthday!"

Uh no.  Not for my younger sister who bought me the Fitbit I wanted; my older sister who gave a labor-intensive gift of homemade pasta and pesto; or the BFF who found the perfect two-tone purse I'd been searching for but unable to find. I want each loved one's gift to be as special and personal as theirs always are for me.

And the holidays are just around the corner, which is why I've been flipping through more catalogs than usual, looking to get inspired, creative.  Recently, a new one arrived that I'd never heard of before: Hammacher Schlemmer. Their tag line reads, "Offering the Best, the Only and the Unexpected for 168 years."

Alrighty then. Bring it on.

Would my sister like "The Brightest Lawn Dart Set" that glows in the dark? Such fun to be had for just $49. Or, at the same price, would she prefer a more sentimental gift, such as "The Animated Praying Bear" who recites Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep? 

I'll keep shopping.

My BFF is a very insightful "Oprah-like" kind of gal. Maybe she would enjoy "The Authentic Himalayan Singing Bowls" that were said to "invoke a deep state of relaxation, meditation, and spiritual well-being." A pretty amazing promise for just $199.  Or would she like something a little more indulgent, such as "The Genuine Turkish Towels" from the Denizli region of Turkey, which, the catalog claims, "is legendary worldwide for its toweling of extraordinary thickness and absorbency." Given the international acclaim, it sounds like a steal at $59.

Looking, looking.

"Tinnitus Relief Wand." Pass. "Best Bug Vacuum," "Wide Coverage Handheld Steamer, or "Tight Space Bathroom Organizer?" Nope. And while my gardening-loving sister might appreciate "The Only Unkinkable Garden Hose," I couldn't see that as a Christmas present. So far I wasn't finding much in the way of potential gifts. 

Then I saw it. The very awesome "Three Dimensional Labyrinth Orb." Hello, what was this?  Described as a "...spherical labyrinth that challenges the limits of your manual dexterity and spatial understanding as you maneuver a wooden marble through its entire course," the orb appeared to meet my criteria of fun, interesting, and unusual. This was something my new nephew-in-law might enjoy. Yowza, one gift down. That is, until I saw the price. I blinked. Read it again. Was this a typo?

$40,000.  That's right. Forty thousand big ones.

And so it was, tucked alongside products such as "The Best Tower Fan" for $129 and "The Eye Fatigue Preventing Reading Glasses" for $49, an item almost double the cost of a Toyota Prius. But hey, it does include free shipping. Maybe I could call Customer Service just to yank their chain a little, have some fun.  "Uh yes, I was perusing your catalog for a nose hair trimmer and came across your three dimensional labyrinth orb on page 73. I'll take two, please."

Or I could buy an iTunes gift card.