<p>A new Smith-Corona typewriter for college papers. I loved it. It’s in the garage somewhere, and needs a new ribbon.</p>
<p>a Swiss watch. Omega. I don’t wear it anymore, but I still have it, and cherish it.</p>
<p>HS … luggage because I went OOS (oh the horror!) Sis got the BLUE fancy typewriter.</p>
<p>College … when I got done a quarter early, I spent that quarter’s tuition on a bright ORANGE Maverick, 3 speed on the steering column and parents paid the rest. That is the only check I still remember writing $2787.42. Partly I remember it because it was such a HUGE number and partly because Mom messed up the deposit on her end and I had to write it twice. eerk erk.</p>
<p>Grad school … nada, although my dad came down to see it, one of 3 times he’s been to my house in 3x years of marriage.</p>
<p>Dragonmom, I think we got the same luggage! I also received a chest of drawers and lingerie.</p>
<p>High school: electric typewriter and a dictionary</p>
<p>College: vacuum cleaner. (Yeah, I’m still not sure the significance of that. Then again, when I married the jewish man, I got Christmas china for 8 from the same parents.)</p>
<p>High School: permission to pierce my ears (free) and my mom paid for the studs ($5). That was all we could afford and I was thrilled that she could come up with such a creative gift I would always remember and cherish. I had enlisted in the military for right after graduation and the A.F. wouldn’t allow earrings to be worn during basic training. I was afraid the holes would close up. However, my training instructor let me sleep in studs so it was alright in the end.</p>
<p>High School, a set of luggage, Royal Traveler, a light blue. (We still use it) Also an Olympia electric typewriter, out in the barn now & yes it needs a new ribbon!
College, a used 1970 convertible, which I still drive in the summer months. 
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<p>Almost forgot…h.s My sister, who is ten years older than I am, gave me a handmade (not by her) fullsize patchwork quilt. I remember thinking at the time that it was a really lame gift. Thirty years later, it is the only gift from h.s I still have. It’s been everywhere with me and I love it now.</p>
<p>UCD Alum I’m lolling. I’m the Jewish wife and for first (July) bday gift after we got married my MIL gave me a set of xmas tree ornaments.</p>
<p>I got a dictionary and a set of luggage for HS grad.</p>
<p>honeywell pentax 35 mm camera. still have it…probably can’t remember how to use it!</p>
<p>I honestly don’t remember getting anything. My parents paid for my college education, so it never occurred to me to expect anything else.</p>
<p>My Grandma gave me $100. I remember that.</p>
<p>HS was a typewriter - an IBM selectric which I later sold to buy my first computer (an Apple 1)</p>
<p>College was a Canon AE1 - which still takes great pictures today - both of my kids used it in their HS photo classes until they advanced to the digital portion of the class.</p>
<p>I know that my mom meant well…for HS grad I got this ring that she thought was great. i have always worn very simple, simple jewelry; she loves big and gawdy. I remember wearing it to my graduation and that was it.</p>
<p>But for college I got a nice watch (yes, plan & simple) that I have worn every day since.</p>
<p>HS–Smith Corona Correctronic Typewriter (the one with the correcting ribbon you could pop in and out.)</p>
<p>College–I did an abroad half-summer program after senior year, delaying graduation till August. Scholarship paid tuition, but mom helped me pay living expenses.</p>
<p>My brother got a calculator (which at the time cost more than the typewriter!)</p>
<p>A new baritone sax–this was a huge gift at the time.</p>
<p>stereo speakers - Bose 501s.</p>
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<p>oooOOOoooooh…!</p>
<p>I got 2 pieces of luggage–IIRC both pieces were Samsonite (ugly, green, and plasticky). It was a big deal for my folks (both immigrants) to buy this because they really don’t want me to go away for college.</p>
<p>$$$ so I could go to the beach with 2 of my friends for a long weekend. (BTW we had a blast!)</p>
<p>Another memory about that bari sax…when I got to college with it, I went and auditioned for the concert band. Honestly, I wasn’t a great player. But this was a beautiful, new sax. The director listened, and then told me that I could be in the band if I agreed to go and take private lessons. I later learned that I was the only person in the band subjected to such a requirement. I remain convinced that he wanted my sax more than he wanted me. It turned out great–I was able to play my parts (mostly). So it was really a great gift.</p>