I’m an odd person. I actually love the challenge of wrapping presents in a creative and beautiful way. Over the course of the year I look for things I can use to enhance my gift-wrapping. Small pine cones, rocks, buttons, pressed leaves, clearance knick-knacks, and remnant ribbons are all prime objects. Sometimes I tinker with the doo-dads by spray-painting them or adding glitter. My glue-gun is my best friend even though it burns me on a regular basis with its snotty trail of glue. Pudgy is now my official overseer and deconstructionist. I spend as much time retrieving ribbon from her as I do putting it on the packages.
Ultimately, when I hand the gift to the recipient, I feel joy when he or she tells me the gift is too pretty to open. “Naw,” I say. “Rip that sucker open with abandon! It’s all part of the experience!” I mean really, how often do we have permission to mess up something attractive? (Kissing doesn’t count.) Afterwards, as little shards of paper and decorations spread over the floor, I smile. Maybe a little less glitter next time, and more beads. Ohhh! That gives me an idea…
And so it goes. Every gift comes enveloped in my imagination. I have a stack of naked presents waiting upstairs. My glue gun is hot and feeling feisty. Yep, it’s gonna be the best part of my day.
