Best Christmas Present Ever?

[Low-N-Slow]

This rhetorical question was posed to me by my lovely wife, over a lovely Christmas dinner and a bottle(s) of lovely wine:

What was your best Christmas present ever?

[justagirl]

My Apple IIc Computer when I was a kid. I stayed up for the next 6 months looking for Carmen Sandiego and trying to pretend I knew how to write programs. I'm still a geek...

[bam bam]

JAG in a Santa suit.

[flyinbayou]

My niece posed this question to me. How can you tell what "ever" is if you haven't lived ever? I could answer "to date" but not "ever".
I know, I know.....semantics!

The word "BEST" in this context describes to me something that is not only intangible but also cannot be bought and also unexpected. I am sure their are several people on this forum that could answer this better than myself but I consider a brother of mine beating cancer so far right up there.
Also, I would have to include the Saints having a winning season and being able to enjoy that with said brother (a season ticket holder for over 20 years) is a real treat! I know many may not think of that as a gift but...

[Titchou]

Actually, I think that yours is the best gift ever...along with my BIL getting a positive check up from his prostate cancer treatment this year! The gift of life is at the top.

[Gourmondo]

That's an easy one...seeing my brother run out of the flight gate at the old Moisant in 1969, back in one piece from Vietnam, screaming "I made it, I made it!!" and holding us like he'd never let us go.

[Schuarta]

As relating to gifts from other people - parents, spouse, children, friends - over a long life time, it's imposible for me to even remember all the good things let alone pick the "best".

The biggest "thrill", I ever had at Christmas, was taking the sailplane (no motor) I was flying, from a tow release 2,000 feet over the local terrain, to 37,500 feet. Two hours of "work" climbing, cockpit temperature -40 deg F at the top.