My father and I work together in our family business. However, we often talk about our various hobbies and interests with one another. He's into drag racing and tinkering on cars. I'm into firearms and archery.
About this time last year I get a call from the owner of the LGS. I'm a pretty small fish, but he knows me well enough that if he has something at a good price, I'm usually going to bite. He says that he has something right up my alley, and that I should come down right away and look at it. Of course, I drop everything and drive over there
When I get there, he pushes the typical transfer paperwork in front of me to start filling out. He pulls out a long black case containing a brand new Stag 2L AR in 5.56. "Your dad said you might like something like this."
My dad had been paying attention when I had mentioned they had an actual left handed rifle and bought it for me as an early Christmas and birthday gift.
I love this gun. I don't get to shoot it nearly enough, but it fits me like a glove, it's inexpensive to feed, and it's the first thing I would grab if the SHTF. On top of that, it was a thoughtful gift from my father. I didn't ask for it. I didn't expect it. I didn't even think he would remember me talking about it in passing. I might replace the bolt and springs on it in time, but this gun is an heirloom to me simply because it was a random act of kindness from my old man
I'll never give it up.
