To gift or regift? That is the Question

Through out the year we walk to and fro along crowded sidewalks, with hardly enough space to breathe. People focusing on nothing more than the next cup of coffee, work, or their finances. In today's world when credit cards are a dime a dozen. Receiving enough fake plastic in the mail to decorate a Christmas tree. Temptations creeping into the mind like nuts in a peanut cluster. Why is it so strange that gifts have become so important? Whether to buy name brand...how much to spend, are you spending enough, is that too cheap? Curiously questions arise of what to do with those totally needless terrible gifts you receive from Aunt Laudie or Uncle Claud. Should one regift? Isn't regifting a form of free commerce and capitalism? Or is regifting an ungrateful extension of materialism. Affluenza symptom: regifting those gifts that just don't jive with your tastes. Rude? Or Enterprising? Look to the wisdom of your Elders: My Grandmother Juanita was an avid regifter. She literally regifted everything she was ever given. She only kept what she bought herself...but the trick was in her old age, was not regifting the same gift to the person who gave it to her. Now that was a mighty tough task when you are 83 and have 6 children, and numerous grand and great grand children with a slight bit of senility. I on the other hand often forget what I have for breakfast and have to write all birthdays and anniversaries on the calendar know the answer to that question is: No regifting. Yet all the papers, bows, ribbons, buttons and tissues of bright ruby and emerald....I reuse so that I can call my self a Green Elf....so that all our future generations my enjoy the Holidays.

Grandma's Anniversary

People scurry to and fro, back and forth, left and right, all packaged chaotically in a small home. The heat is unbearable, the swamp cooler just won't do the trick. Hey Mom how about we go buy a block of ice and drop inside? People murmur loud and quite about memories from the past. Some sitting close on dinning room chairs, others lounging on the couch, a few squished uncomfortably in white plastic patio chairs used on these occasion as living room furniture. (The Genius of Rednecking it!) Two sets of Grandparents sharing stories of times far forgotten in the minds of the youth present. One of the youth sets hanging on every word (that's me) just trying to capture these memories for herself, Another types away on a aged laptop trying to play dogfights with slow Internet, the last two set arms intertwined with thoughts of loving on their minds. Conversation drifts from Oil Derricks to Missions.

Finally the Feast is set with BBQ chicken, Potato salad, one dish that might still be alive brought by an Aunt that you just smile and pass by, beans with no spice, and bread that wasn't cut through the bottom crust so that half a dozen dinners must wrench loose hot chunks of garlic buttered toast. As dinner comes to an end the Family searches for a delectable dessert but all come up blank. I wonder do they not realize their is no dessert. Grandma and Grandpa whose anniversary it is move their eyes to me....Grandma says, "Wheres my Anniversary cake?" Wide eyed I answer, "We have no cake" Grandma smiles with a twinge of irritation, "Your fired" The group bursts in to laughter but Grandma keeps that expression of hurt. I race to the Kitchen for a Cupcake or Snack cake anything that will satisfy the sweet tooth of an old woman. Finally in desperation I break my Organic Dark 70% Chocolate bar in half and present it to Grandma and Grandpa with smiles and laughs. Yet, Grandma can only wonder, "Is this sweetened?" A wayward Aunt goes into the kitchen looking for any remnants of the Chocolate she didn't share. Sorry, there isn't a bite more......I will never again not make a cake....I love my Family. Welcome to the Family!