Gift Ideas for Good Samaritans

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I just finished cleaning up the remnants of a sizable trash fire that took place on my porch (unextinguished cigarette, stupid stupid stupid).

My next door neighbor saw the fire before I did -- I was inside with the volume up, windows closed, and shades down -- and proceeded to spray the fire with his hose and calling for my attention while his girlfriend/wife called the fire department. It's a good thing, too, because this fire had the potential to be massive.

I feel the need to thank my neighbors for their good deeds, which probably saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage. What should I get them? Omaha steaks?

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

Seriously, do I get them a fireman's hat? What?

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Do they drink? A really good bottle of scotch or wine?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:35 (twenty years ago)

Omaha steaks are a good motherfucking choice.

(seriously)

― Jimmy Mod Is Great At Getting Us Into Trouble (ModJ), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:37 (twenty years ago)

Or give wine and mow his lawn or something

― Jimmy Mod Is Great At Getting Us Into Trouble (ModJ), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:38 (twenty years ago)

Just don't barbecue the steaks on the porch.

― M. White (Miguelito), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Alcohol is a good idea, but I don't know them even that well -- I've only been living here for about 6 months. They don't *seem* like alcoholics to me (recovering or otherwise).

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

How about one of those gift certificates you can use at any store?

― Aja (aja), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

Flowers are a nice way to say thank you, and pose no problem if the samaritans are vegetarian or teetotallers or something.

― rainy (rainy), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

These are all good ideas. I'm usually such a bad neighbor, I don't really socialize with the people who live around me.

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

I was inside with the volume up, windows closed, and shades down

Kinda gathered that...

― M. White (Miguelito), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

What is an appropriate sending amount? I'm thinking between $100 to $200. Too much?

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

I think that is a little much. You don't want the samaritans to be embarrassed.

― rainy (rainy), Monday, 20 June 2005 20:58 (twenty years ago)

Maybe $50 is good.

― Aja (aja), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

Such a nuanced question of etiquette! Emily Post to thread.

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

Dude, she's been dead for years.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:07 (twenty years ago)

For a more personal expression of gratitude, make them a mix tape:

Thank You by Led Zeppelin, from the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II

Thank you by Dido, from the 2001 album No Angel

Thank you by Alanis Morissette, from the album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie

Thank You by Chronic Future, from the album "Lines In My Face"

Thank you by Jamelia, from the album Thank You

― rainy (rainy), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:10 (twenty years ago)

Emily Post's zombie to thread, then. xpost

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

We got rescued in our car that was stuck on an icy road by ski field workers. I sent them liquor shop gift vouchers to the value of $40. It never crossed my mind they might not drink.

― isadora (isadora), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:24 (twenty years ago)

"You want to show your appreciation without drawing any attention to the fact that appreciation costs money. Thus, an actual gift would be preferable to the more quantifiable gift certificate. A bottle of Lagavulin would be lovely, and provides an opportunity to make light of the near-tragedy, in that you are giving them the gift of a flammable liquid. And if they're teetotallers, YOU CAN EAT THEIR FLESH."

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:34 (twenty years ago)

I think I'll go with a nice bottle of white wine. Let's hope they drink it.

― andrew l. r. (allocryptic), Monday, 20 June 2005 21:50 (twenty years ago)

How about one of those gift certificates you can use at any store?

-- Aja (AsiaKitty200...), June 20th, 2005 7:41 AM. (later)

Money?

― Sasha (sgh), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

I know. It's practically the same thing.

Wonder why they made those gift certificates in the first place. Wonder if there's hidden fees in them or something.

― Aja (aja), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 01:35 (twenty years ago)

Why not just a card with a well thought out written note inside, delivered personally with flowers/chocs? Simple and the card itself would be the nice thing.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 02:09 (twenty years ago)

You could get one of those greetings cards onto which you can record a spoken greeting of your choice. Thank them for their good neighbourliness then launch into a drunken karaoke version of "I am the god of hellfire".

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

I once saved my building from burning down thanks to my super sensitive nose. As a result, my neighbour only lost her kitchen (where her electric kettle had exploded or something) and not her entire flat. She tearily promised me the biggest birthday cake ever. But my birthday came and went, the promised cake never appearing. Mind, she never asked when my birthday was... nor my name, for that matter. It kinda hurt my feelings.
Maybe you should just try to be the best neighbour ever from now on. Or invite them round for a nice dinner party. Failing that, my mother is a firm believer in fruit baskets...

― dahlin (dahlin), Wednesday, 22 June 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.