Quote Originally Posted by fixedgeargirl View Post
It's about your relationship with your brother. He may be a boorish control freak, but you're never going to change that. He's probably always going to give you obnoxious gifts, and run over you in conversation. The only thing you can change is you, and how you react to him and his actions. It's something I'm working on, myself. It's not easy, but it is ultimately freeing. Best wishes.
Fixedgeargirl,
Indeed it definitely IS about my relationship with my brother! If someone who didn't know me at all sent it to me I'd laugh and not think twice about it. Like people who get ugly ties every year for Xmas. Instead it's another reminder that he is so unaware of who I am and doesn't listen when I try to express to him who I am, what I think, feel...
But don't get me wrong- I'm not like losing sleep over this dumb basket!! I've had to deal with lots of weird gestures from him over the years.

DH also assures me that he'll never change, and I've learned the hard way over the years to simply skirt the issues with him and fake my way through the "family visits" so as to avoid new problems. It's sad, but he can't deal with close honest communication. My other brother is so different, by the way, so open, and he and I have no trouble at all getting along wonderfully. I feel very lucky about that.
Thanks for your good wishes and wise words.