November 16, 2003
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How do you open a Present?
Tis the season to be making your list and checking it twice,
making sure that your family is getting you something nice
Has it started yet around your house? The kids leaving "subtle" hints of the things they'd like for Christmas? Your husband leaving the Craftsman Sale Flyer casually on your pillow? Or maybe the wife has taped photos of that diamond necklace to the mirror?
I freely admit that I'm a horrible participant in this game. I don't make such a list. My husband has learned a few rules over the years - such as "If it has a power cord - it's not romantic." And, "If the day of the week ends in the letter "y," flowers are appropriate." My kids are in a wonderful place right now. My six year old and I share a love for bright and shiny sparkles. His budget doesn't allow for the things that he REALLY likes, so he compromises. I love the bracelet he gave me last year with big glass beads and silver charms.
One of the things that I've become known for over the years, is my slowness opening gifts. I savor the color of the print, and run my fingers across the bow. I slide my nail beneath the tape and breath in the scent of the ink. Then it's time to unfold that crease, and smile at the music of the crisp paper. I have been known to take five minutes or more just unfolding the wrapping. If the box inside is plain white, I have another moment of waiting of anticipating what may be inside.
I remember one Christmas when I was in high school. My just younger sister had found the perfect present for me. It was a soft angora sweater that she loved. In fact, she loved it so much that she bought it in a color that would look best on HER. Then she told our other sister what she'd done. Only, I heard.
SOOOOOOOO, on Christmas morning, when I opened that box, the biggest surprise was for my sister, that sweater had magically changed colors! Yes, I did it. I slipped under the tree and exchanged the present before Christmas. She had chosen a rich green - I unwrapped a lovely lavender. And I took a long time about unwrapping that box. I knew what was inside of course, the fun that day was watching my sister watching me. And seeing the expression on her face when she realized ... and seeing the expression on her face when I gave her the green sweater that she had originally bought.
My sister, Sam, is the quieter sister. You here on Xanga have been much more familiar with my other sister, who used to write as fugitive but has largely abandoned her Xanga blog this Fall as she has returned to school. Sam has a Xanga blog too, but her writing is more personal and mostly privatized. Over the years my relationship with Sam has been difficult to unwrap. When we were young, we had the misfortune to be close enough in age and interests for people to compare us. We heard it often. My sister is an accomplished pianist, we sang in the same choir, and we auditioned for the same parts in the Christmas program at church. We were both sopranos back then. I have since morphed into more of an alto. (Which is fine by me because I love to sing harmony, I like the sound of it, the way it feels in my throat and the richness of the end result.)
Sam and I have lived near each other and far apart. Right now, she is in Minnesota. But although we are not close physically, we have grown closer over the past five years than we have ever been. She's a really cool person having overcome serious challenges in her adult life in a way that I can only admire. I'm the older sister, but I look up to her. And you know what, if I could go back and do anything over - I wouldn't exchange that sweater.
Comments (19)
i rip them open..
I like wrapping more than opening.
And...I don't care so much about the paper as I do the ribbons. I'll take my time sliding a ribbon off or untying it...draping it around my neck...sticking a bow on the dog's head...but the paper? I do tend to open one end and try to slide the box out.
Know what? I'm glad you switched the sweaters with your sister and turned the gift giving tables on her. I think...it was a sweet lesson and...a great prank...and a wonderful memory to look back on and share with your kids. And us.
Well, I'd play that game if I had anyone to leave hints for or with...
I'm more of a ripper opener...LOL I guess it's because I seldom get anything I did not pick out and pay for myself...so I always want to know what it is.
Tell Fugi hi!
It's odd how as adult's you become closer than you were as kids. Somehow I always think it should be the other way around, but it isn't.
I open them slowly. I rarely get presents so when I do I savor it.
I get my knife out. Slash the ribbon and tear open the package.
Mike
I'm glad you changed the sweater on your sister. It would have been a mean trick if you didn't give her the original sweater, the one she wanted. It was a big sister lesson, one with a little bite, but also with generosity or spirit thrown into the mix.
I have distant relationships with my siblings, but not difficult---because of the distance. I wish we could be closer because they are very dear to me, but I've let go, not of them but of letting that desire influence our interactions.
My most recent ex taught me to open presents slowly and appreciatively. She taught me a lot actually. About much. Too bad she dumped me. Although that taught me something too.
P.S. -- What an ingenious trick... the sweater switching...
You just reminded me...I've got to try and convince some relatives NOT to buy gifts...or if they do, to purchase them from the Hunger Site or something. For some reason, my brother is reluctant to do this...sigh.
Generally I try to keep the paper in one piece. I make things with it later on *grin*
Oh, but I think what you did was great! It was the fun of Christmas to see her face, and then the love of Christmas for you to give her the green one. I think that moment was precious!
my always scolds me (even up to this day) because i think half the fun in opening a gift is ripping the wrapper every which way.
she, on the other hand, would want the gift unwrapped as carefully as possible. she either saves the wrapper as a reminder of the moment, or recyles them to wrap other gifts.
it is always a pleasure to give a gift to loved ones, especially something they really want but would not or could not get themselves.
wow...you've done some creative things to your site/ very nice
I'm a quick-ripper. I LOVE that story about the sweaters! Can you believe I've tried to comment here two times today, and I've gotten interrputed each time? What's the deal with my family? Don't they know I've got Xangaing to do? Sheesh.
You write such sweet stories. I love switching the sweater.Today I was thinking of Fugitive and wondering about her. Hope she is doing well.
You're so sneaky. I love it.
I remember that - I still pick out Christmas presents the same way - I get something that I would want, then give it away.
I'm trying not to think about Christmas at all. It's not working though. I open mine quickly, only because I don't like being the center of attention.
Great story about the sweater swapping!
HUGS
hee hee..that was a mean trick, but well deserved. Sounds like you have both become much better people over the years though. I just tear the paper off as fast as I can.
: )
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