Letter to my children: On presents
/Dearest Beloveds,
I want to share these anecdotes with you for two reasons. Primarily when I write them down I get to relive my joy. Additionally I savor the stories of my own childhood and I think that despite the potential for teasing as they are shared in the years to come - I think these tales are wonderful, uplifting, amazing. These personality nuggets make up you as you - glorious, unique, and inimitable you. They are treasures because you are treasures.
About a week before Christmas both of you became concerned that you wanted to give gifts. I suggested to Bean, “Well, I am sure that everyone would love to have a picture?”
“Ooohh, yes!” A pause. “Momma what is your favorite color?”
“Ummm, green?”
“Okay.”
Later that same day. “Momma what do you think is Tia’s favorite color?”
“Hmmmm, either turquoise or … you might need to ask her?”
“No, it is a surprise. What do you think is her favorite animal?”
“Oh wow, Bean, maybe horses? Should we call her?”
“NOOOO!!! It is a surprise!”
These cryptic questions were translated soon enough into pieces of colored construction paper taped all over your walls. Each paper had a name on it and hearts. On the back of the paper were taped individual little presents. Mine included a cut out of an animal that could have been either a panda or a dog or a cat or a cheetah (I don’t remember what I told you for my favorite animal), a green gem, a small 2 inch by 3 inch piece of paper with a drawing of a spider web and a spider on it, a hand rolled green hanukkah candle, and a handmade envelope to put my paper and gem into.
Dragon, you were very concerned that everyone coming to breakfast on Christmas morning have a present to unwrap from you. So you asked me for the tape and got busy.
To Michael you wrapped: an electric plug and a windup tree you received in your advent calendar.
To Momma: you wrapped a marble from the playroom.
To Dadda: you wrapped two pens (one of them from his work).
To Bean: you wrapped a windup Santa Claus you received in your advent calendar.
To Tia: you wrapped a piece of paper that you drew an elephant onto - the wrapping being the paper itself with interesting folds and angles and lots of tape.
In fact, I think the tape - in layers, overlapping patterns, and scrunched corners - could have been considered part of the presents.
Thank you both for a wonderful wonderful Christmas. The best gift of all was being with the two of you.
