It's not pink, and I don't like it.

Christmas is a time of joy and giving, but it can also be a time of stress and disappointment. As an adult, you can put on a fake smile and pretend to love the bizarre Belgian mitten style hand dusters that your Dad sent. As a child, it can be hard and sometimes impossible to conceal your dissatisfaction over a gift.

In 1978, I was three. I liked Barbie, sugary snacks and all things pink. So for Christmas, I was hoping to get lots of dolls in pink dresses and some candy in my stocking.

On Christmas eve, my family was gathered around in the living room in our house in Lynnwood. The fire was blazing and our Pekinese, Muffy, was there waiting to scarf up any dropped Christmas cookies. My Mom, Dad and my aunt were orchestrating everything to make sure that my little brother and I had an equal amount of presents to open. Not that he would have noticed, since he was only a year old.

I'm sure I got lots of cool presents - fuzzy bunnies and pink slippers and things like that. But the present that everyone in my family will remember for all time, was a gift from my Grandma. (I don't remember this, but I've been told the story so many times, that it seems like a memory of my own now. ) I took the gift and tore off the bow and wrapping paper. Inside, was a seafoam green Sesame Street nightgown with Big Bird on the front.

Both my parents froze. I hurled the nightgown across our living room and bellowed, "It's not pink, and I don't like it!" and promptly started to stomp my feet and go into full-on tantrum mode.

My Mom, Dad and aunt were all trying not to laugh, but my Mom said, "I think it's time for someone to go to bed. We've had enough Christmas for one day." Then she escorted me to my bedroom.

My parents love this story. My Mom, who isn't crazy about my Grandma (she's my Dad's Mom) says that Grandma should have known not to get me anything green when I liked pink so much. She also said the nightgown was chintzy anyway. This is probably why I have a warped view of gift giving/receiving even today.