We used to have a small shop in Batangas, and I remember how hectic it was during Christmas time. I’ve been a cashier, a sales boy, a box maker and even helped scout for pickpockets and shoplifters. I’ve done all these and more. But if there’s one thing I didn’t do, it’s being assigned in the gift wrapping section. This was the expertise of my younger brother and sister, and it’s something I don’t know how to do.
Despite a lot of things I’ve been through, I felt Christmas again. Somehow. And it happened tonight in the funniest of timings- it was when I was wrapping my gifts for my family with my own hands. Yes, I finally tried it.
I guess watching them all those years somehow taught me how to do it. The moment I took hold of the Christmas wrapper, it seemed magical that I knew what to do. I was cutting and taping and cutting and taping. In the end I managed to wrap two gifts in less than fifteen minutes. Not bad at all. And the outcome is actually pretty good.
While I was wrapping, I was thinking about all the trials my family has gone through. And being together despite all these made me smile.
Merry Christmas everyone!
