VOL. V, NO. 6
DECEMBER 13, 1963
Beautifully Decorated Gifts
Cause Difficulties in Opening
Cause Difficulties in Opening
By Vicki Kolton '65
Each year as Christmas approaches the same thing happens. You see the presents lying under the tree and dread the thought of opening them.
It isn't that you don't want to open your presents or that you don't appreciate them, because you're dying of curiosity to find out what they contain. But when someone hands you a package covered with tissue, ribbon, bells and candy canes, your reaction is always the same. You inevitably exclaim, "Oh, it's much too pretty to open!"
Well, you finally overcome your awe and you start opening the present. You'll soon discover that you probably will need a knife, sledge hammer, or drill to get through all the ribbons, tape, wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, and other wrappings.
You work your way through to the gift and you look up at everyone who is standing around watching you. As you look into their eyes you feel guilty. They might be smiling but their eyes seem to be accusing you of being greedy, wasteful, unappreciative of beauty, coarse‑fibered, materialistic, and grabby.
Each year as Christmas approaches the same thing happens. You see the presents lying under the tree and dread the thought of opening them.
It isn't that you don't want to open your presents or that you don't appreciate them, because you're dying of curiosity to find out what they contain. But when someone hands you a package covered with tissue, ribbon, bells and candy canes, your reaction is always the same. You inevitably exclaim, "Oh, it's much too pretty to open!"
Well, you finally overcome your awe and you start opening the present. You'll soon discover that you probably will need a knife, sledge hammer, or drill to get through all the ribbons, tape, wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, and other wrappings.
You work your way through to the gift and you look up at everyone who is standing around watching you. As you look into their eyes you feel guilty. They might be smiling but their eyes seem to be accusing you of being greedy, wasteful, unappreciative of beauty, coarse‑fibered, materialistic, and grabby.
The gift itself always seems to be a big letdown when you remember how it looked still wrapped. But you always manage to say the thing which will make the giver feel good.
Then comes the final job of cleaning up. You look around and see the mountains of paper, cardboard boxes, stickers, ribbons, and excelsior, and don't know where to start.
Things always seem to get cleaned up and by the next day you seem to forget all the trouble and mess caused by opening presents. You start to look forward to the next Christmas with anticipation and the bitter memory of the previous one dims from your mind. But it was well worth while.
Then comes the final job of cleaning up. You look around and see the mountains of paper, cardboard boxes, stickers, ribbons, and excelsior, and don't know where to start.
Things always seem to get cleaned up and by the next day you seem to forget all the trouble and mess caused by opening presents. You start to look forward to the next Christmas with anticipation and the bitter memory of the previous one dims from your mind. But it was well worth while.