Giving gifts on XM

Where does it start, and when does it end?

I seem to remember while growing up that not only my parents gave me gifts but that my relatives did also

Then one year, one of my relatives on my mom's side I guess popped the balloon, and we no longer exchanged presents with them -- The same thing happened on my dad's side but much later

It had always puzzled me for many years as to why that relative wanted to stop it -- I think I understand better now

It can really get endless -- and by endless I mean that all of a sudden you are buying stuff for people including co-ws, neighbors, the postal guy -- not even talking about the more obvious people who we commonly gift like relatives, good friends, etc

It's like we gift in anticipation that someone will gift us -- or we gift because we don't want to hurt somebody's feelings

A funny thing seems to happen along the way, people drop the ball -- I've dropped the ball, too -- and it's like sheesh, when did this start, and of course how does this end

When taken to logical extremes you go, gee I get one gift yet I have to buy multiple gifts -- or in some bizarre way you start keeping track of the value of stuff and going -- well gee, I don't want to cheap someone on their gift, they did give me a gift in this value ballpark

And the best one is when you actually take the time to get someone something -- then for a series of years they don't get you anything -- I mean, what do you think about that? Do you go, oh gee, I have friends with no conscience -- or do you go shit, why are we buying each other stuff in the first place -- at this point??? why

It's so crazy