Casual Conversation

My mom, a switch. She'd been wanting one, and I managed to save enough.

My dad, a bottle of Johnnie Walker blue label. It's one of those things he had loved when he had it ages ago, but finances never allowed him to indulge in since. I had quit smoking back during covid, and I set aside part of what that used to cost every month that I can. A little into one "envelope", a little into another, and so on.

Normally, we don't do purchased gifts. Which is actually really awesome because the gifts really do matter more now. Typically, I'll do a cake or something like that for my dad, stuff my grandmother used to make. Nostalgia for him (and I recently found what I think is the right recipe for one he's requested before, but hers was lost), and a great experience all around remembering mamaw and hearing his stories.

But, I figured that the occasional bought gift was okay. And I wanted to give them each something that I knew they'd really enjoy. My mom has always been the sort to value escapism. My dad the sort to seek experiences. So it made sense.

Sometimes, for my mom, I do the savory version of what I usually do for my dad. Recreating one of her parents' meals, like my grandfather's SOS, or grandmother's meatloaf (which, tbh, my mom says she likes mine better, but my grandmother's is more nostalgic).