<p>i plan on giving gifts to the profs who wrote me letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>one of them i’ve known for 5 years, i’ve been to her apartment for cocktail parties and to get advice from her (she lives around the corner from me), i held her newborn baby (awwwww), she’s treated me to lunch a few times, and last year after she advised my honours thesis, i gave her a card with a detailed note and some old prints i found antiquing that i knew she’d find interesting. i would’ve bought her a bottle of wine but she was still pregnant then. now that the kid’s popped, i’ll get her a bottle for this year’s recommendations.</p>
<p>the second prof who wrote my letter employed me as his research assistant, and it’s pretty unusual in my department for professors to take undergrads as RAs. we’ve also had drinks together at the campus pub (well, when i got there, he was already 5 drinks in and invited me to join him). one shelf on his book case is dedicated to bottles of jim bean, so i plan to add to his collection. i’d get him something fancier, but JB’s his favourite. why deny the man?</p>
<p>the third prof who wrote my letter is also thoroughly fantastic, and i’m fairly close with him as well. even though i graduated last may, i’m taking one of his classes right now just for fun. it might be awkward to give a gift to a guy who is currently teaching me, but i don’t really care. he drove me to my stalled car and stayed with me while i waited for the tow truck. i’ve met his kids, we trade music, he sends me rare torrents to download, and we have lengthy discussions about bill hicks and richard pryor and paul mooney. the man’s getting some alcohol from me. he hinted at bourbon, but i’m sure a nice scotch would go over well too.</p>
<p>i guess what i’m trying to say is, history professors are borderline alcoholics, and while fancy gifts or gift certificates may be weird or unnecessary, most people appreciate a bottle of something nice (if you know that they drink).</p>