I just received a wonderful gift from a good friend. I have received many gifts in my lifetime. I was very lucky growing up that I always got something cool for Christmas and my birthday. When I say I a wonderful gift I mean something that is very special. So how do you define what is a "special" gift and what is a "nice" gift? For me it's the thought and effort that went into selecting just the right item. Like I said I have received many nice gifts books, music, clothes, computer gadgets, what have you. Although they were all nice items to receive and I enjoyed them all they were all given with a certain amount of convenience, meaning that they were not personal to me. The latest best seller is the just the latest best seller to everyone it's not personal.
The gift I received was a bottle of Macallan, single malt, 18 year old Whiskey. This is something that really hit home for me. It is my all time favorite Scotch and I have no idea how the person giving me this wonderful gift would know that about me. Did I tell them once that I liked it? Did someone else? I don't know. What I do know is that the person who gave me this gift didn't just go to the store and grab a bottle and put a bow on it. They took a moment to reflect and they must know me pretty well because I love it.
Here is how I like to drink Single Malt Scotch. Grab a highball glass, put in 3 cubes of ice, not 2 or 4, it has to be 3 cubes. 2 cubes doesn't chill the whiskey enough and 4 will water the Scotch down too much. Also the cubes have to be dropped in exactly 2 inches from the top of the rim. If you drop the ice from more then 2 inches the cubes break up and become water too fast.
So tonight I will go home, crack open the Macallan, grab 3 cubes and drop them 2 inches, then raise a glass to you friend, you didn't have to do that. But it was SO thoughtful and I thank you so much. I was just grateful to spend some time with you. I will see you soon and here is to your health.
Georgia Tech
UCLA
