It’s that time of year where companies shout out “It’s graduation gift time”! Now that I have a student in our school district, there is so much communication regarding high school graduation. I’ve been reminiscing about those days lately. It was such a bittersweet time! The excitement of new life experiences awaited, yet all-the-while knowing things would probably never be the same.

I received very many random (and much appreciated) graduation gifts, but by far, the best gift I received for graduation was money. Let’s face it. I liked cash (and currently still do), and I was already eyeing dorm room decor at Target! Cash at that time of my life meant fun pillows, rugs, posters, and cute colorful decorative items. In my present life, cash goes toward my current raccoon problem and squirrels trying to eat my house! (Ugh.)

But when I went off to college, I didn’t expect to get these three products that my Dad sporadically sent me my freshman year while living in a dorm that actually came in handy.

• Portable Car Battery Charger – This not only served me once or twice, but really came in handy for other girls in the dorm who had trouble as well. I was like an on call automobile mechanic…kinda
• Tool Box Complete With A Saw?!!! – Now I could have done without such a large tool box. The one I’m linking to is an idea of everything that came with mine, but add probably another 50 pieces of screw thingys and a MUCH larger hand saw. I remember the day I received this like it was yesterday. My mail box was not close to my dorm, so when I saw the post office guy bring out my very long cardboard package, I was so excited! I balanced it on my bike seat and walked my bike back to the dorm. I lugged it up three flights of stairs (it was heavy!), and opened it as fast as I could. Then I saw it was something practical. It was a tool box with I can’t tell you how many different handy man tools were in there. The hand saw was what got me. I don’t even know if I technically was supposed to have a saw in a dorm?! Haha. Even though a simple hammer and a phillips and flat head screw driver probably would have been sufficient, it was nice to know I was able to assemble any furniture that came our way!
• Two Portable Fire Mask Things – This was another one of those “I got mail. I’m so excited to open it.” gifts, and yet found something practical again. 🙂 I had never seen one of these before. I have been searching and searching for the exact product and I can’t find it. It was probably recalled for safety reasons??? The one I linked to off Ebay in the asian writing (ha) is all I can find that somewhat resembles it. It was a green can and apparently you’d twist the top off and put the hood over your head and breathe in the oxygen. I think it had 3 minutes worth of oxygen or maybe I’m completely making that up. I was blessed to have my high school best friend be my roommate (and we are still best friends), so it was sweet of my Dad to think of including a life saving oxygen mask for her too. But, what about my suitemates who are my current best friends today, and what about all the other girls in the dorm? haha…I felt a little guilty having them, but it was a little nice to know that if a fire and smoke situation happened, I’d bust those babies out and see what they were made for!
• Cart Dolly Thing – I still find uses for this dolly today. It helped me carry a pack of water bottles from my car parked so far away and today it helps me move furniture within my house without needing my husband. Amazing. Love this thing.

 

That’s it for now! Please share with anyone sending a kid off to college. Did your parents send you any practical strange gifts in college? I’d love to know! 

Hope you all have a great week!

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