(photo: Rose Mattrey)

I’m not a fan of shopping, but I understand it as an obligatory part of the holiday season. The pressure of finding the perfect gift for those special someones translates into the drudgery of a long and painful hunt. A little change of attitude can turn this painstaking process into something more enjoyable. Just like there are a million fish in the sea, there are a million gifts out there, and that special someone would be lucky to get any one of them. My new rule of thumb is if it’s something they didn’t own yesterday, then you fulfilled your obligation.

Here are some last-minute gifts to have on hand for those people in your life who you forgot were there until today, until it’s too late. They’re suggestions for people like the public service attendant who deserves a little acknowledgement lest they misroute your mail, newly developed friendships that should be solidified, and those who hint about how excited they are to give you your gift. You nod and say, “Yes, I too am excited to give you yours,” and then you sigh. It doesn’t have to be this way. Stash gifts for a snowy day and you’re good to go.

The gift of gratitude: Thank god I don’t have your job. And thanks for doing this kind of work with a smile on your face. These are public services gifts for those people whose job you’d never want, but they send a smile your way while they do them. Toll booth attendants come to mind. I shiver when I hand them my ticket and most of them send back a warm smile. I’d like to return the warmth with a pair of Life is Good® Snuggle socks from Buffalo Fleece and Outerwear (758 Elmwood). They’re the softest, warmest things you could introduce to cold feet.

No longer a stranger to me: It’s time to meet the parents. I’ve put it off long enough, so when I invited myself over for Christmas, he said, “Yes it’s fine. My mom already got you a gift.” Ugh. There it comes again, the proverbial exchange, but what kind of impression would I make if I didn’t comply? That’s when I noticed the sign on the storefront of Delish (802 Elmwood): five cooking classes for $140. While it’s true it’s a cool idea, it might not be the best of messages to send on a first encounter. I decided this gift is a mismatch. How about something sturdy and hardy like a hunk of specialty cheese from Globe Market (762 Elmwood) instead?

The instructor: It could be a professional mentor, a yoga instructor, your kid’s teacher, or your banjo teacher. They deserve recognition for being so patient, so you better show them gratitude. Plus, it’s good karma. Gifting them with a bottle of wine serves a dual purpose—to say thank you, and to ease the headache of putting up with you.

“I can’t wait to give you your gift too”: This is the ultimate test of pure rushing around with your head cut off. How about a Tru-Teas gift basket (810 Elmwood) (pictured above)? It includes specialty teas, a tea pot and cups. While your gesture might not be, the gift itself says, “Tru.”

The finicky sibling: She has a high-end taste that doesn’t match your low-end budget. Everything you give her will be construed as cheap. My solution? An insulated wine tote that comes equipped with a cutting board and cork. You provide the outlet (or inlet in this case) and she provides the expensive vintage. I found a cool one for $23 at Cose Fini (1004 Elmwood, Buffalo; 660 Main, East Aurora).

(photo: Rose Mattrey)

For the one who has everything, but could still use more: This one takes more thinking. You’ll hit many walls before you black out, then come to with that “Ah ha, got it” moment. In my case it was a Rock Tote (pictured below) from Everything Elmwood (740 Elmwood). The front is decorated with an album cover, anything from Bob Dylan to Rod Stewart, and a vinyl record on the back to match. Kitsch but cute.

For that garish aunt with a tidal wave bouffant that weighs down the left side of her body: She drills you with 10 questions a minute, all of which you don’t particularly feel like answering. This calls for something really sticky and gooey—something that’ll give her lockjaw. How about a Choo Choo Nutcorn Train from Choco-Logo (141 Broadway)? It’s six pounds of pecan nutcorn packaged inside a plastic train, so while you’re trying to evade her questions, she’s stumped on how to open the damn thing.

The potential girl: You’ve seen her walking down the street at least once a week for the last two months. You’ve tried to catch her eye, but she’s so fixated on straightening her poodle’s bow that she has no time for you. You know nothing about this girl other than she loves her dog. While this might be the only thing you know about her, “Lovely day” hasn’t quit worked. The best way to reach your dog lover’s heart is through her pooch. Go to Sonny’s Doggie Bakery (1008 Elmwood) and pick out a mutt muffin for your chick for 99 cents. And when she screeches, “It’s covered in chocolate, you idiot! You want my dog to die?”—tell her it’s made of carob, an all-natural substitute for chocolate. For Valentines Day, get her the assortment of treats for $7 per pound.

The potential guy: You’re in that awkward stage, neither here nor there. The best way to get closer? Ask to smell his neck after he uses the soap. It’s marked with a giant D for deodorizing soap and it smells damn good. It’s one of many all-natural products under The Man product line. You can find it at Cose Fini or online at themanproducts.com.

The unisex gift: We have a tradition in our family to exchange Kris Kringle gifts, and every year my dad forgets the name he drew—easy to do when there’s 13 kids and nine married into the family. While your family might not be so big, the world of co-workers is. His solution? Buy a 20-pount Hershey bar and wait for your Kris Kringle’s name to be revealed by process of elimination. Chocolate works for any and all occasions, especially when it’s shaped into pretty little buffalo. I’ve heard the real buffalo in Yellowstone National Park are jealous of these beauties. You can find “Boxed Buffalo” chocolates at Watson’s (738 Elmwood) for $6.99.

That should get you started. And next time someone says how excited they are to give you your gift, you can smile graciously, then make a mad dash to your storage closet. After all, no one ever said the perfect gift had to match a particular person.