Christmas prepping

We have started the countdown! Holiday shopping and chaos ensues. I recall the busyness of this season as part of the nostalgia of yuletide, but as an adult it can be less enchanting. We have to think of all the details and make sure that this magical day comes together as seamlessly as possible. Once a kid and now an adult, I have behind-the-scenes knowledge of how this particular holiday comes to be. In fact, as a mother, I am one of the crew that makes sure it all happens according to plan. I gather the gifts and shell out the money. I ensure the cookies (now gluten free) and milk get ingested. I decorate the space so it fits the enchanting ambience of the holiday. Adults make the dream happen!

Yet, one of the memories that comes back to me (and still haunts me 'til this day) is that of Christmas wrapping. My mother was a stickler for precise, beautiful gift-wrapping. If it wasn't done exactly to her specifications, she would nitpick and critique me until my ears rang. In fact, she was so particular that if she felt you were not up to her standards she would make you redo everything from the very beginning, start to finish. It was one of the things we would be expected to do for others - to wrap their presents with care and intention. However, it was also the reason why I became a "just throw it in a gift bag" sort of person. I am not one for wrapping a gift that will soon be torn into pieces anyways. To me, it seemed just as effective to put gifts in pretty bags with lovely tissue paper than to spend time wrapping everything.

Yet, there is something heartwarming about getting something wrapped prettily. I understand the sentiment completely - I just don't want to be the one expected to do it. That being said, it is still a very important part of Christmas, although it may be a challenge finding a place that still does this activity. Well, look no further! Yours truly, the Portland District Library, is offering a gift wrapping program that will get you out of the house and enjoying the company of adults while you conceal presents in festive papers. This program will ensure that you can safely wrap your gifts without the prying eyes of inquisitive children trying to sabotage your efforts.

There have been two dates already passed, but you can still join others as they enjoy hot chocolate, holiday music, and a plethora of wrapping materials if you're interested. We will be hosting this again on December 17 from 2:00pm-8:00pm and December 22 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. We have plenty of wrapping materials left including wrapping paper, bows, tape, various sizes of bags and boxes, pens and pencils, wrapping tissue/tissue paper, and scissors. We are inviting the community and anyone interested in using our free wrapping materials to join the holiday spirit in this timeless tradition.