tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post186410422653735065..comments2024-03-27T03:19:11.216-04:00Comments on Assistant Village Idiot: Great Giver of GiftsAssistant Village Idiothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978011985085795099noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-1936006881202961542019-12-22T15:06:32.707-05:002019-12-22T15:06:32.707-05:00In my limited experiences, there are preferred lov...In my limited experiences, there are preferred love languages and they matter; however, everyone does seem to like many different ways of being told he (this is the non-gendered, third person singular I was taught as a youth) is good, kind, etc. as well as all the other ways of expressing love.<br /><br />Old CurmudgeonOld Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15395164559081209995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-72953597643927861972019-12-22T13:43:28.121-05:002019-12-22T13:43:28.121-05:00After Beowulf defeats Grendel and his mother, Hrot...After Beowulf defeats Grendel and his mother, Hrothgar bestows a great number of extravagant gifts upon him. Beowulf takes them home and promptly gives every single one of them to Hygeliac. <br /><br />It’s a more complex web than the king giving gifts to warriors to ensure loyalty. There’s a mutuality to the support network. Hygeliac is Beowulf’s uncle (Beowulf’s mother is Hygeliac’s sister). Loyalty is assured in part by blood ties. The gifts that flow up as well as down are a reinforcing mechanism, but also one that allows non-family to join the web. It’s not just blood anymore, it’s honor; it’s not just access to good food and weapons for the warriors, but a chance to return won wealth to the giver both to strengthen the band and to win respect through the public act of gift giving. Grimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543082562999855432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19305198.post-17367880183515309592019-12-21T22:48:14.339-05:002019-12-21T22:48:14.339-05:00One especially low-budget birthday time I bought a...One especially low-budget birthday time I bought a bird-call CD for my nature-loving wife. She liked it. Our eldest son loved it. He is now a bird-lover; rare or common--he appreciates them all.jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792036361407527304noreply@blogger.com