I love shopping for unique birthday gifts for my Nth level friends. Whenever possible, I also organize events or surprises for them. However, for this year, one of my Nth level friend specifically instructed, “no gifts” to me.

I was stumped.

You see, I consider birthdays as a day where you get to be the Prince or Princess – and everyone treats you like one. That is, you can get away with everything and anything, and just because it is YOUR day after all. And I like pampering my Nth level friends like that. For me, it’s also a day where you can legally smother them with your affection without them saying, “It’s too much!” Frankly, they deserve more than what I can come up with during their birthdays. Much, much more.

So for this year, to celebrate my friend’s Birthmonth, given the “no gifts” instructions, I decided to do small things in an extraordinary or special way for my friend. Like last Tuesday, after dinner, I treated my friend to a savory yogurt dessert we both haven’t tried and surprised my friend with a pink stress ball. The next day, Wednesday, I dropped by my friend’s office to deliver a slice of luscious cake.

The month’s almost ending though. I wonder what unique gifts I will still come up with…