Gee, thanks dad! A broken hanger.

Christmas in my family is about people, not presents. So when I saw a gift marked to me from my dad, I was surprised. I unwrapped the small package.

"It's a broken hanger," I said with a big smile. I'm a good daughter.


"What could you do with a broken hanger?" my dad asked. He hasn't thrown away anything since 1983.

Not missing a beat, my brother Ken chimed in, "Hang up half a shirt."

I didn't know what to say. Still smiling.

Dad explained that I could use the hanger as push sticks to help move small pieces of wood across the table saw I recently acquired. It was starting to make sense. My dad had even cut notches in the hanger pieces to fit different sizes of wood.

You can always buy or make bigger and better table saw accessories, but here is a smart idea that cost zero bucks.

As I held the pieces of a broken hanger, I was sincerely thankful because my dad is looking out for my safety. He wants to keep my fingers out of harm's way.

"It's the gift that keeps on giving," I said. "That's right," he said.

Be careful out there!