The compilation CD (formerly the compilation tape). One of my longest-running favorite things to receive from someone.

It so aptly embodies the creator. At least in my imagination, if not as much in reality. Each different song is reflection of the nuances in the creator's different characteristics.

It seemingly allows one to get closer to the creator, to him/her better and more intimately, without needing to actually spending time with the person. Giving away a compilation CD is giving someone an avatar, which seems to say a lot and mean a lot.

Now, if a person found himself/herself unable to create a compilation CD - say, he/she couldn't come up with more than a few favorite songs to put on the CD, or he/she couldn't narrow his/her selections for the CD down to 15 tracks or less - what would that say about the person, if anything?

Got one for me?