Many factors determine what makes a gift memorable. For example, sentimentality. Years ago, my dad gave me a rain suit to keep me dry when caught on my motorcycle in wet weather. He laughed when I thanked him and told him it was a truly appreciated gift that I hoped I wouldn’t need much. I still think of him when I make sure it’s packed on the bike for a trip, even more so since he passed away.

Another gift prompts a memory I’d like to share because of the element of sneaky surprise. I was Christmas shopping and spotted some hummingbird suncatchers. My mom and I both enjoy feeding and watching hummingbirds in the summer, and we’d talked about how we miss them when they leave for the winter. She likes bright, warm colors so I bought her a red one, one that would be around through all seasons.

I saw a blue and green bird suncatcher I liked at that time but didn’t buy it because I decided I should stick with gifts for others that close to Christmas. I knew my mom would like the one I chose for her, and excitedly showed it to my boyfriend when I got home and described the colors of the other birds I liked. A few days later, I decided I just had to have a permanent hummingbird too, so I went back to the shop that sold them. The one I had wanted was gone, so I picked up a green suncatcher to hang in the window.

Imagine my surprise when I opened my gift from my boyfriend a couple weeks later. There was the blue and green hummingbird I’d wanted! It wasn’t at the shop when I’d tried to go back for it because he’d secretly gone sneaking back to pick it up for me. Both hummingbirds are hanging in the window to this day, and I remember the effort my boyfriend made to surprise me that year. It still makes me smile when I look at them.