Is It Tacky to Ask for a Gift Receipt?

It was the second most exciting day of the school year: the last day before Christmas break. Piles of chocolate covered cherries, boxes of Ferrero Rocher and gawdy jewelry sets covered my desk. I even had a delicious fruit cake made lovingly by one of my favorite fluffy haired students (or possibly the household help). I was walking through the school cafeteria and a somewhat lecherous man handed me a gift bag and walked away. I opened it excitedly and was ummm... surprised to see a lacey bra and panty set, in my size. I looked on the gift tag and was thrilled to see the name of one my students, a 12-year-old Cassanova. At least I wasn't the teacher who got the red thong.

I wish I could say that it was the only time that I have been blessed with such a thoughtful gift, but alas, I am often on the receiving end of similar good will. I don't know what made people think that I needed:

* From China: A journal featuring a cat sporting a tiara. The caption says, "I'm your Princess Cat, I'm Your O.K. Lover."

* From Mexico: A Virgin Mary statue inside of a glittering seashell.

* From Provo: A voodoo doll

* From Bolivia: A liter of holy water

* From Oregon: Chakra gems

* From a girl in my high school Civics Class: A Ronald Reagan calendar (Ok, not so weird, because I celebrated his birthday every year and I thought that he was Mormon until I was 7)

* From my cousin: Birthday clam juice

* From a student: A plastic meat cleaver and Jason mask. We kept giving the mask away at bridal showers, so I don't even know where it is now.

* From another student: A disguise mask, as follows: