What is the most thoughtful gift you've given (expensive may not apply) ?

[Uncula]

  My wife's birthday is on the day after Christmas.  After we were married, Christmas was pretty good for her (we celebrated with my family, her family, by ourselves and then her birthday), all together, 3 days of presents!  There was just one problem.  She never got to celebrate when it was warm outside and over the years, it began to bother her.
  So, one year I decided to surprise her and give her MY birthday!  I was able to get her out on a day that was sunny and warm.  On our way home, I pulled into the church parking lot and about half the congregation was parked by our Fellowship building.  She usually knew all that was going on at the church so she thought she had forgotten something and wanted to investigate.
  I let her go in first, an she was met with loud cries of  "Surprise" and "Happy Birthday"!  She later told me that it was the best  and most thoughtfull "Birthday" she had ever had!
  NOW. Tell me your most thoughtful gift. - Uncula

[typhooforme]

Don, I have pondered this every time I walk through this section and see the thread--but I'm darned if I know what I have given that might be considered thoughtful.  However, if I turn it around, I can think of several things that people have given me which I consider very thoughtful.  Years ago, when I lived on the farm and had quite a walk from the barn where I parked up to the door of the house--a dear friend gave me, for a Christmas gift one year, a folding grocery cart type of thing--and a good dolly--and I thanked her for those a hundred times.  I used them and used them, in all seasons--for carting groceries, for carrying gardening stuff, all kinds of things.  Purely utilitarian and--like a gift of tools--something that made me grateful to have 'em for years following.

[raycastile]

I think it would be easier to get people to talk about the thoughtful gifts others have given them, than to ask them to evaluate their own thoughtfulness.

Robert gave me a thoughtful gift at Wonderfest – Forry Ackerman's personal copy of the book The Mysterious Monsters.  Nevermind that I had already planned on mugging him on his way out of the hotel to obtain said treasure.  The fact that he gave it to me of his own free will was most thoughtful.

[typhooforme]

Glad you liked it, Raymond!  It jumped out of my hands and into yours, saying "Raymond, take me home--you will love me!"

[typhooforme]

I'll tell you another thoughtful gift I got--an old friend this past Christmas gave me a 6 month subscription to NetFlix.  I had meant to subscribe for a couple years, but never got around to it.  Wasn't sure I'd really use it all that much.  I have used it weekly since I got it, and have enjoyed it tremendously.  It allowed me to watch the entire DEADWOOD series and several good (and bad!) movies that I might have otherwise purchased, for better or for worse!  Great gift!  And a good one to give to anyone you know.

[Uncula]

   I considered the comments so far and believe a few ways to gauge the thoughtfulness of a gift is
1. the unexpectedness of the gift (flowers at Valentines is not unexpected)
2.  the reaction of the person who received the gift (my wife cried, kept repeating how unexpected
     and thoughtful the gift  was, and lastly
3.  she showed her gratefulness very nicely that night 

There also may be other ways you might be able to think of.

  Don

[drthomasholmes]

 A friend of mine once sent me an autographed 8x10 signed by Johnny Cash and June Carter. turns out he had a friend who worked doing errands for the Cash's, and was also a autograph collector. When Johnny died, John Jr. gave the picture to him, it originally hung at the House of Cash. Well, that man passed away, and my friend ended up with the picture. He sent it to me for no reason other than we are friends.

[Toy Ranch]

I guess I never think about how thoughtful a gift I give may or may not be.  Sometimes it means more to me to give it than the person I give it to.  Sometimes it means more to them than it did me to give it.

[Nicole]

I guess I never think about how thoughtful a gift I give may or may not be.  Sometimes it means more to me to give it than the person I give it to.  Sometimes it means more to them than it did me to give it.

Ditto.

[MissDrac]

Through out my young years, time is what I give to others. Time for my family and friends. Thats all I want in return too.

[Paul L]

I sent my sister a Jim Shore Winnie-The-Pooh (Disney) figure recently when I learned she had to have surgery. She's loved Pooh Bear from infancy, so it was symbolic of many profound feelings, memories & concerns.

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

For my Mother on her Birthday and Mother's day, I have always ventured into our neighbors yard(abandoned), and plucked a Red Rose from the Rose garden.
Somehow, the Roses continue to grow, even when no one takes care of them.

Maybe the Love I have for my Mother, keeps the Roses alive.

[Illoman]

A painting. I'm not that great of an artist, but when I give someone a painting as a gift it's the closest thing from my heart I can give. It's a part of me, as it were, and I'm selfish in that I enjoy the creation and the gifting of a painting.

Mike

[BlackLagoon]

Another thing I enjoy aside from Monsters are Lionel Trains. My sister who is very imersed in the fashion world and sometimes what seems to be "her own world" due to her job really suprised me this Christmas. I may have mentioned to someone at a family gathering over the holidays a certain trolly car I had my eyes on. I didnt make a stink about it at all. I wanted it before Christmas so I could display it on the track under the tree..which due to space is really the only time I can use these things. Anyway, I figured I would just pick it up when finances were better after Christmas.

I couldnt believe that when I tore the wrapping paper off a box my sister handed me...there it was! Gleaming and brand new! My sister listined to every word I said over a ton of chatting and banter. The fact that she was listining to what I said really struck a chord with me....and the fact that I got to watch that trolly race around my Christmas tree that morning was great too!

[Anton Phibes]

A set of the Universal Monsters re-issue puzzles that came out in the early 90's.  they were the first thing my wife ever bought me because I commented on how nice the art was.  I still have them to this day.