Chain of thought
Tuesday December 13th 2011, 12:36 am
Filed under: Family,Life,Lupus

(Day two: quite good. Yay!)

I was at our clinic today, paying my December bill in person because I needed a receipt for it. I knew that meant I would have to wait; I came with yarn.  I set down my cane and my purse and then the admin lady smiled as my needles came out.

I sat next to a desk, and attached to that desk was a pen connected by a long chain of tiny silver balls to a black plastic base.

The previous person at my seat had painstakingly, perfectly wrapped that chain around and around and a few more times around, so that it sparkled in a circle at the base as if it were a small Christmas tree skirt. Horizontal tinsel.

I was charmed. The woman there was delighted that I’d noticed it too and told me about it. I wondered how long it had taken that person to get it set just so–and I didn’t want to mess it up, but when I needed a pen mine weren’t easy to find and the woman smiled again and assured me it was okay to go ahead and use that one. (I did try to redo the little desk sculpture but it was clearly going to take me a long time and I didn’t want to get in the way of her work.)

From wrapped to scattered in an instant.

I spent the evening with tape and colored paper to try to get some presents ready to go out of here, and soon. Some people do incredible jobs of present-ing a gift just so; for me, I can only hope that they’ll be charmed that I tried.

This is the first Christmas that we have a grandchild who will be old enough to open his own toys: things that wobble, things that go ’round. And you know that means there needs to be a good plain box, too, because those are always the best.


8 Comments so far
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Oh, the joy of wrapping a gift for a grandbaby to open! (someday, Ellen, someday…)

Because it was so transient, the coiled pen chain was even more delightful, don’t you think?

Comment by twinsetellen 12.13.11 @ 4:23 am

You and the lady behind the desk both noticed the impromptu decoration. The world is a better place.

I don’t know… I still think that Christmas my BFF opened her mom’s front door and thrust her infant in my arms before giving me a hug herself was about the best Christmas moment ever…

Comment by Channon 12.13.11 @ 8:00 am

Beautiful family!

Perhaps that chain was meant to be unwound.

Comment by Don Meyer 12.13.11 @ 9:58 am

“horizontal tinsel” — awesome — and a lot of folks just wouldn’t have noticed — you have the artist’s eye (there is beauty all around!)

and yup, at least one good sturdy plain box required at our house too — we know Mr Cute will want to play with the box

Comment by Bev 12.13.11 @ 10:01 am

My son was my wrapping person, and he took a long time with every package, to make it just so. The rest of us just try.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 12.13.11 @ 10:04 am

Did you ever play the game where you wrap your child up carefully in their blanket, then open it like a present and act surprised and thrilled? “Oh, look! It’s exactly what I wanted!” That made them laugh.

Comment by LauraN 12.13.11 @ 10:56 am

I love LauraN’s idea – I’ll try it sooner than later!

I’m glad your health is still good. Onward to day 3 and more goodness!

Comment by Suzanne in Montreal 12.13.11 @ 2:06 pm

*whispers* Happy birthday, Alison! <3

Comment by Amy 12.13.11 @ 7:53 pm



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