Phew.
I’m done. I have completely finished all of my seasonal materialistic obligations. The hubby and I dropped the kids off with my folks on Saturday evening (thank you very much Pops and Gamma, so sorry about the ribbon incident) and finished up with what has become a very drawn-out gifting experience.
I’ve already posted about my personal feelings on what this season has become to many people. I’ve also posted about the insanity that sets into people when a sale price is posted and about my own panic earlier this month at the realization that I was nowhere near as progressed with my gift list as I had thought. But now? It’s all a moot point because I AM DONE!
After the last swipe of the debit card we hurriedly rushed home andI laid out my bounty of benevolence, admiring what the recipients are hopefully sure to love.I came toa very sudden andupsetting realization. I now had to wrap every stinking one.
I hate wrapping presents.
And, I do not use the word “hate” lightly. In fact, I’ve noticed that it is an extremely overused word. There are, I’m assuming, very few instances where the sentiment actually applies to the situation. For example, “I hate these boots.” (Extremely dislike? Yes. Hate?Unless they are somehow making you look fat, not likely.) “I hate it when you do that.” (Probably fustrated. Unless we’re talking about when Jer sports his underwear uniform until noon. I really do hate that.) “God, I hate you…I mean, who can eat a dozen Krispy Kremes and not gain a single pound!?” (Okay, I understand this one. Hate actually does appropriately describe this particularsituation. You get my point.)
Back to the presents. I love buying them and absolutely despise having to wrap them up. I know people who get all Zen by the process and claim that it’s their favorite part of the season. Crazy people. I’d be more likely to volunteer my services at a cockroach petting zoothan a gift-wrapping station.
Here’s the problem. I have zero patience. I get out all the goods, raid my supplies for ample tape, scissors, paper and ribbon. Set it all out before me and…proceed to walk away for about an hour because I’ve already exhausted my creative mind.
When I come back to it I am typically fresh and ready to start. I lay out my first box, cut the paper effortlessly, tapedown the sides marveling at my ownability to estimate the correct paper size, find the perfect ribbon to adorn the package, add my gift tag and sit back to admire my handiwork.
And then I get to the second present.
This is an entirely different experience. Inevitably, the paper will rip in 400 different places as I cut it to size. I will most likely have mis-measured and will need to cut another strip to compensate for the shortage. I will use 30 yards of tape as most of it will fold in on itself and refuse to stick to paper or package but adhere with gusto to my fingers. I will frustratingly finish the project with a mismatched bow and “To” and “From” scrawled across the back of the box with a black Sharpie. As I work through the pile of presents it will only get worse and worse. Actually, by the end I’m lucky if I’m still using Christmas paper as my work gets so sloppy I have most likely used it all and have moved onto that roll of St. Patrick’s Day paper I was coerced into buying by the neighbor kid.
I’ll bring out the motley crue of wrapped Christmas gifts, whichI’m sure would be turned away atthe manger even if offered up by the magi, and shove them under the tree making sure toshift the really bad ones toward the back. Because I’m slightly type “A” I will then have to immediately put away all of the wrapping supplies thereby removing the source of extreme stress and frustration from my sight.And just as I set the last bow into the rubbermaid tote I will discover that I have forgotten aboutthree or fourpresents stashed in my closet.
And the entire process above is repeated.
So what about you? Are you one of those people who looks forward to wrapping the presents? Is it part of a family tradition with Christmas music playing in the background and a mug of hot cocoa at the ready? Or is it a stress-inducing chore that requires lots of rum?
If I didn’t love and anticipatethe slightly melodious sound of ripping paper I would probably dump the whole process and startusing gift bags. However, it just doesn’t feel the same. So, every year I will continue to dutifully wrap each and every present which graces our Christmas tree. I will continue to buy my Scotch tape in bulk at Costco andwill undoubtedly be required to explain to the kids why they have shamrocks and pot o’ golds plastered all over their packages.
I’m hoping that someday I will become awash with creativity, but until then there will always be rum.
Happy Holidays, Mindy
OMG, I’m laughing so hard my ribs hurt! I actually don’t mind wrapping presents, because I an anal about it. They all have to be perfectly wrapped, so I had to become “expert” at it. I could actually do one of those volunteer wrapping stations at the mall!
But no, I don’t do the holiday music. For me, it’s usually a CD of some rock favorites. I remember distinctly one year, listening to Kid Rock while wrapping presents. On our bed. While the kids were in the house. The music had to drown out the sound of wrapping. I do remember a headache that year, though! LOL
Okay, I might be able to handle more wrapping if Kid Rock is somehow involved! =)
Mindy
Ah, yes. Alcohol and gift wrapping go hand in hand! My mom calculated the number of gifts she has to wrap this year (which I in turn have to help with) and it’s somewhere around 100. Yes, 100 gifts. I’ll help her wrap all the gifts except my own, since she’s sick. I may sneak the bottle of Jack Daniels into the mix before it’s all said and done with.
Holy cow…I’ll stop complaining immediately. 100?!?!? Of course, if Jack Daniels is there to help it’ll make the whole process go by much more smoothly. =)
Mindy
I actually love wrapping presents, complete with a mug of hot tea and Christmas carols playing in the background. Julie helped me this year, which was a little taxing at times, but completely worth it.
I’m counting on Avery’s help next year. She tried helping with one this year but she quickly realized how much easier it would be to just have me do it. Man, I should have had Julie come help me! =)
Mindy
Sorry – I’m one who loves wrapping gifts! Not so much the wrapping itself, as the result. The paper has to match, coordinate, and wow. I picked out this year’s paper last year. My family says I don’t even need to put who the gift is from – they all know my packages! Merry Christmas!
Oh, my family all knows which packages are mine…just for an entirely different reason than yours! =)
Mindy
I don’t love it, but a stint working in a gift wrap department in high school gave me some mad wrapping skilz. 😉
That being said, Santa doesn’t wrap the gifts he leaves at my house. He just sets those suckers out there so there!
Yep, I learned early on to make sure and ask Santa to bring those presents…unwrapped! =)
Mindy
I make it a race, to see how fast I can do it. My wrap job is pretty shabby but I am FAST.
Maybe I need to try the rum. Too too funny on your post. 🙂
See? It’d almost be better if I were FAST. I’m just sloppy…and slow. Nothing good there. =)
Mindy
I’m with you. I hate wrapping presents. Maybe that’s why I put off buying them until the last minute! I love giving gifts, but wish I could just hand them over in the bag I bought them in. That said, I understand the importance of presentation too. Ugghh, the dilemmas!! Can you believe I’m still not done shopping? I’m going to be one of those people out at the last minute this week. Oh well. I don’t think I’ll be lonely.
No, you will definitely not be lonely as I just discovered I completely forgot one present I was going to get…thus, I will also be one of those last minute shoppers. Ugh, will it ever end??? =)
Mindy
I don’t mind wrapping presents, although I do sometimes get frustrated when I end up using too much tape and the sides aren’t even or end up bumpy.
I saw this while I was reading other blogs earlier today and thought it might be something to consider: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2009/12/getting-things-all-wrapped-up/
Good luck!
Oh, I love that idea! I would completely value receiving a gift in a drawstring bag like that. All in all, wrapping paper is just such a waste. Thanks for the link! =)
Mindy
i’m with you on this one. i despise wrapping presents even though I myself LOVE to rip the paper off.
my father however, he wraps like the nordstrom gift dept. corners all perfect and smooth and bows placed neatly and evenly! (smh) so not fair!!!
why do I not have those skills?
You poor thing! I have gotten so lazy about wrapping I have resorted to using gift bags!
Not very Christmasy, but at least the are a package. HO-HO-HO!!