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Any ideas about this?

Recently, I read a Dear Abby column in which a woman confessed to stealing back a gift she'd given to a friend because her friend had not liked the gift and had been insulting when he received it. Abby pointed out that she was, essentially in this situation, a thief.

The column got to me because years ago (about 7 years ago) I gave a close long time friend a birthday gift and she didn't like it and went so far as to be sarcastic about it. It cost me a LOT of money and I really believed she would like it. I felt terrible. I still do whenever I think about it. Now I am considering being a thief and stealing it back. I would almost certainly get caught because my friend has a detailed security service with carefully monitored cameras in every room of her home.

I've also thought of just asking for it back and giving her another, more appropriate, maybe appreciated, gift instead.

Any ideas? How crazy is all of this? Should I just forget about it?

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SomeAreBoojums · 51-55, M

gift giving is so tricky. I have some family members (don't really have "friends", per se) who, no matter what I give them, will say "Gee, it's not really what I was hoping for, but thanks for the thought." Or, others, whom I KNOW would love the gift, but I'm taking a real chance if I don't know they didn't already buy it for themselves! Both of these situations are solved by gift receipts. Don't like it? Already got one? Take it back to the store and get something you like better! Or, in the case of my mother, who, no matter what I give her, will say "Oh, I don't really NEED this, you need the money more than I need this gift" and immediately try to give it back (especially if it costs more than $10), I give socks. People can always use socks!