There will be gifts: Prized pink pen

Here's an example of a perfect gift (for me, anyway): the Conklin pearlized-pink pen Le Duc gave me on Christmas.

Had I hinted for a flashy yet seriously practical pen? No. I got along fine with Bics and scrounged hotel freebies. But now that I've had it for all of a week, I must carry it with me and use all the time, must know where pink pen is, must graciously accept compliments.

Isn't it wonderful to give a gift that delights, and as an extra refinement, is something the recipient didn't know she would enjoy so much?

If you look round my neck you can also see an Italian cashmere scarf, which is another luscious gift from him. Perfect. If your partner rolls his eyes, you can tell him this took twenty-some years of practice... but in fact he was pretty great from day one.

The Mac app "Photo Booth" let me take this shot sitting at my computer and post instantly. Really fun and score one more point for Apple, whose PCs I've used since their first models.