Pretty paper

In spite of the fact that the tree is still only halfway decorated, no cookies (of any kind) have been baked and we have only a bare covering of snow on the ground, it is finally feeling like Christmas.

I wrapped my first gifts of the year last night.

Once upon a time, I took a great deal of care in wrapping packages.  One year, I used coordinated gold and white paper with handmade wire-edged golden ribbon bows.  Another year, I went a bit nuts and purchased gifts for my family that would all fit in handmade reindeer bags.

My family, however, was less than pleased with my pleas to save the bows and to open the reindeer bags from the bottom, to avoid destroying my handiwork.  They simply wanted to get to the goodies inside, rather than lingering on the outside.

Gift wrapping always brings to mind an old Willie Nelson song made famous by Roy Orbison, and later recorded by Willie himself.  The chorus is very familiar to all:

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils, to write I love you
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

But the song is actually a sad one, condemning our unwillingness to take the time to look beyond the outside, to reach out to someone who is hurting:

Crowded street, busy feet, hustle by him
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits, all alone on the sidewalk
Hoping that you won't pass him by

Should you stop?  Better not, much too busy
You're in a hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance, the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter, he cries

Especially in this economy, take the time to do what you can to reach out to the less fortunate. Drop an extra five in the red kettle, take the time to take those extra winter coats to the shelter.  Volunteer, especially in this weather, to help staff the overnight hours in a homeless shelter.

Vintage Willie, for your listening pleasure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNFdFbo8cA