I like the way seto f numbers seem to expand to the next level whenever yo run into something yo can't do. You start with the Natural Numbers and you can count things. But whatabout when all the things are hpne? So you add zero and have Whole Numbers. But what about when you only have part of something? Then you need Rational Numbers. And how about when you owe something to someone else -> Negative Numbers. Turns out the square root of two is troublesome so we need Irrational Numbers. And pi is even more troublesome so we need Transcendental Numbers. And even if you can undertsand the concept of Real Numbers, that's still not enough because gosh darn it we want to be able to take the square root of negative numbers we have to have Complex Numbers. Are the numbers we learned in kindergarten Complex Numbers?

Personally, I wouldn't think very much of getting money as a wedding gift. It seems a little tacky.

I base my wedding gifts on need. If a couple's been living together or already have an established household, I don't see the use of giving crystal or a dish or pots and pans. The idea of wedding gifts back when the tradition started was to help a couple establish a household with goods they would need for housekeeping, etc.

I'm also confident that money as a gift is always appreciated, whatever anyone thinks of the custom.

Of course, I think that any expectation of gifts is tacky. Like if a person specifically requests cash in lieu of gifts--that person just gets a card congratulating them on their marriage.

"There are always cats in pants."

Words to live by.

That's been my tagline all day.

Hmm. Now I'm worried that the wedding gift I gave this spring wasn't "enough", but I think I need to let it go. (It was a really nice picture frame, from India, and a little wooden carving of an elephant. The elephant was for good luck and new beginnings, and also 'cause, hey, elephant!)

Now I'm worried that the wedding gift I gave this spring wasn't "enough"

That's a thoughtful gift. Picture frames are always good gifts because they are useful.

Picture frames are always good gifts because they are useful.

Except maybe to vampires.

Wait wait wait. We know now that it's not that vampires don't photograph (even in the 50s when cameras still worked via mirrors); it's that they don't photograph well.

I'm also confident that money as a gift is always appreciated, whatever anyone thinks of the custom.

true. I just think that it's tacky to ask for it. If the future Mr. Vortex (wherever the hell he is) has a family or cultural tradition of a money dance, I'll be uncomfortable with it, but I'll do it. I might draw the line at the pinning of money, though. How about a nice basket?

That sounds perfect, Kate.