By Tiffany Smith
Last Christmas, she gave you her heart, but the very next day, she gave it away. So this year, to save some tears, you''d like to give her something cheaper, right? At BYU, it can be tough to find something that conveys the full feelings of your heart and still fits your budget, so here are some suggestions for the meek and humble suitor who is poor in wallet.
A writing utensil. $0.15 to $1.00, or free from the floor of the WSC. A gift that keeps on giving, designate the pen or pencil her special 'test-taking friend.' She can bring it to the Testing Center and when she becomes stressed or panicked, she''ll remember that you love her and feel better.
Snow. Especially if she''s from California or Arizona, this is a gift that will thrill and chill. Before she goes home for Christmas, take your special someone on a romantic hike up to the mountains to a point overlooking the lights of the valley. Tell her you have a present for her, get down on one knee, and scoop up your special gift. It''s all the fun of proposing without the lasting consequences. If it doesn''t snow this year, you can substitute by shaving ice into a freezer-safe container.
A pet prayer rock. Free to $1.00, courtesy of your backyard and local craft store. Combine LDS culture with Christmas cheer by giving her what every spiritual-giant candidate needs: a helpful reminder to say her prayers. Placed in the middle of her bed, your gift will either give her a daily spiritual boost or a backache, and hey, 50/50 is good odds, right? Make it even more special by decorating your pet prayer rock with googly eyes and pom poms.
Her own special e-mail address. Free, on the Internet. Nothing says, 'I''d like you to be my Christmas bunny' better than an e-mail account, especially one thoughtfully prepared with spam blockers already in place and your name on the quick address list. Some suggestions that will keep her feeling special all year long: no_fat_potential@hotmail.com, futuremotherof_five@excite.com, backoff_shes_mine@hotmail,com, or ihave_a_sweetspirit@yahoo.com. Also, the ever popular (insert your name)''s_potential_eternal_companion is bound to be available at your favorite free e-mail site.
A gift someone else has given you. Free, from under your tree. You''re pretty certain that Aunt Maud is giving you a knitted hat . . . again. Why don''t you pass the joy on to someone who can really appreciate it? Carefully remove the tag, or, if you''re feeling particularly intrepid, simply White-out your name from underneath the 'Merry Christmas, Snookums,' message and replace it with your sweetheart''s. Aunt Maud''s beautiful wrapping job is sure to impress and thrill, as will your handmade gift - as long as Aunt Maud didn''t actually decide to give you calamine lotion instead.
Whatever you decide to give this Christmas, make it special and meaningful. And remember, nothing says, 'I love you, Merry Christmas,' better than the words, 'I love you, Merry Christmas.'