I, who looks at the world through rose colored glasses, believes that everyone who purchases a gift whether it’s for a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, or any other occasion, actually puts some thought into it.
By thought I mean you will almost go to the ends of the earth to get that perfect gift.
You know the receiver so well that the gift you pick will be mentioned for years on how perfect it was, right?
Or you take the easy way out and buy a gift card. It takes the guess work out of shopping. It’s easy. They’re available online and in most grocery stores. This way the receiver can purchase what they want.
But if you go so far as to actually go into a brick-and-mortar store to purchase said gift, when you get home you wrap it so beautifully that it’s almost a sin to open it, right?
Let’s assume for a minute that money is no object for this gift. You will still search far and wide for the perfect gift, right? And when you get home, you’ll wrap it with the best wrapping paper money can buy, right? Of course we have to put the icing on the cake, so to speak, by putting the grandest of bows on the package, right?
I’m willing to bet that the majority of people will laugh at what I have just described as my ideal in gift giving.
But this describes me…except for the money is no object part.
Many, many, MANY years ago I heard that when you give a gift, present it in a way so beautiful that you would love to receive all gifts that look like this.
I worked for a small company about twenty plus years ago that gave gifts occasionally to the employees and it was my job to purchase these gifts and wrap them. The owner of the company was all about appearances so putting something in a gift bag was not going to happen.
I did some research on wrapping paper and found exactly what I was looking for at a place called The Nashville Paper Company. The roll was about 400+ feet long (just a guess), was somewhat shiny, very thick so it wouldn’t tear, and at the time it was $80. This roll should last a lifetime.
The next stop was at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby for all different widths and colors of wired-edged ribbon.
Every gift was beautifully wrapped and comments were made that it was too pretty to open. I have achieved my goal.
I also purchased one of these rolls for my personal use. It’s now twenty-plus years later and I’m just coming to the end of my roll. I purchased a solid dark teal color and then purchased rolls of ribbons to satisfy every occasion.
And then there’s the gifts I receive, and have received, all my life. I’m not having a gift pity party here because I’m very appreciative of what I am given. But here’s how my gifts have been given to me.
*Some were wrapped in the funny papers from the Sunday paper
*Some were put in a gift bag that didn’t coincide with the occasion, no tissue paper, and no gift tag
*Some were wrapped in previously used wrapping paper because there was old tape stuck to them and some minor rips
*Some were given to me in the department store bags with the price tags still on them
*One in particular stands out from many years ago that was a generic cheese and sausage basket that you used to be able to purchase at Christmas time from a large display at the entrance of K-Mart
*Last Christmas I received a regift because it was still in the box the giver received it in, with a To / From gift tag inside
If you’re reading this and condemning me for pointing out the obvious, it doesn’t bother me. I always try to give a gift, make a meal, or anything else I do, to the best of my ability.
I bake competitively and the judges have always said that we eat with our eyes. If something looks delicious, most people will be excited to find out just how good it is. The same goes for beautifully wrapped gifts. They should be appealing!
Now that I’m in my golden years, and because I’m almost out of wrapping paper, gift cards it is!
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