More Presents

I have finally finished up my Christmas Shopping – the tangible items. Yahooie! The things that needed to be mailed were mailed. I hope they went to the right folks. I went to a Mailboxes Etc to have them pack and ship the items. There was one set of things for my sister and family and one set of things for my dad. When they finished wrapping them and brought them out for me to affix the address labels, they were in identical boxes. I guess I’ll know on Christmas if the boxes got mixed up or not. Daddy will have no clue what to do with a small perfume bottle adorned with leaping dolphins and an anatomy coloring book. My sister will not be pleased with a book about guns and a bottle of Macadamia nuts. Go figure. It’s the thought that counts, right?

If it is true that it is the thought that counts, I may be doomed. I THOUGHT about getting Bear (who still has not moved out) his own inflatable mattress. I THOUGHT about getting my boss a lifetime supply of vitamin C and a surgical mask so he’ll quit spreading his flu germs around the office. I THOUGHT about getting my daughter a pet stain removal kit for the carpet. I THOUGHT about getting my son something – anything – that would prove to be an offer he couldn’t refuse to stay here with me. I THOUGHT about getting my Dad some cheese to go with his constant whine. I THOUGHT about getting my sister a do-it-yourself divorce kit. I even THOUGHT about getting a couple of my “friends” signs asking “What have you done for me lately?”

Luckily for me, I was able to resist acting on each and every one of those thoughts. Everyone on my Christmas list will actually be receiving something they want or need – something that will make them (as the receiver of the gift) happy. And that’s really what counts, isn’t it? Gift giving is all about the person you are giving the gift to. It’s something to make them happy. The payoff for giving that sort of a gift is a gift in itself. A kiss, a hug, a smile, a look of surprised delight. A soft thank you and excitement in the air. The knowledge that you have just reminded them of your love in a truly touchable way.

I am fairly certain I will be getting plenty of those sorts of gifts this Christmas……and I can’t think of anything I’d rather have.

Wishing all of you the most beautiful and wonder filled holiday season you’ve ever had…….