Red and Green Gift Wrappers and Gold Ribbons

As a small kid, I looked forward to the Christmas holidays because of the idea of Santa Claus. I too, like you, was tricked by my parents on believing that he was existing; and having a fireplace with a chimney in the house, which I later realized was fake, made it all seemed factual at that moment. I received the grandest gifts from Santa – Barbie dolls, Polly Pockets, Flying Dancers, pink bike, doll houses, and my favorite Junior Notebook, which I would be willing to swap over my laptop now. Hehe.

Not long after did I, like you too, uncovered the truth behind the big man with the white beard, who said nothing but ho-ho-ho, routing through chimneys at midnight, and putting each nice kid’s gift under the tree or on his bedside.

So I stopped getting thrilled towards the Santa Claus mystery, and started shifting my anticipation towards exchange gifts and kris kringles. However, no offense to the givers, but I really was never lucky on both. I did always get gifts I least expected I would get, and even gifts I never imagined one could get to give to a kid. I had a collection of socks, hankies, face towels, angel figurines, piggy banks, and foods. These may really be of earthly use, yet of course, no one could expect me to feel even a bit of delight upon opening them. All kids want stuffs of no earthly use at all. Same with others, I would want a toy for myself, even if it was a boy toy.

Fixating about what gifts to receive on Christmas was unhealthy, so I stopped. While growing up, I finally was able to grasp the idea that it is really better to give than to receive; and that became my new obsession.

Today, I am overjoyed when making the list of people I will get gifts for. I am overjoyed when shopping in malls and bazaars with the list in my one hand. I am overjoyed when wrapping those gifts with colorful papers and ribbons. All these, I gladly and contentedly do without minding what I will get in return, or whether I will get something in return.

In high school, I would wait the whole year for the Christmas Party. During Christmas parties, I would carry a couple of big paper bags crammed with gifts for friends. I would classroom-hop to give their presents with free big hugs. As I recall it today, the feeling was just irreplaceable.

However, I spotted that lately, my list has shrunk in. It is pretty disappointing and saddening because I aged and my list should be lengthier.

But then, at least I can get track of people who have really stayed with me through the years, people who have really kept in touch, and people who haven’t stopped caring. And I offer this Christmas to those people. I will seize this once a year chance to make them feel appreciated and loved.

To those who are new in my list, I wish that you allow me to put your names in there for all the Christmases that will still follow, and not just for this one Christmas in a lifetime.