Coasting through Christmas

Laura tried to hide how thrilled she was to get her lime-accented gifts of the sponges and candles. But I could tell that she was almost sick with joy when she opened her lemon-slice coasters. How often does a two-dollar expenditure bring that much emotion to someone’s face? I knew that my little offering meant much more than the diamond earrings from her husband and that iPod thingie she got from her in-laws. Why, they were struggling all afternoon to download songs onto the iPod thingie. But the coasters, sponges, and candles–those are things that she can enjoy immediately without having to read a bunch of instructions!

Then it was Lynne’s turn. When she found a gift wrapped similarly to Laura’s nestled among the other things in her gift basket, Lynne pushed it toward me, obviously realizing that I had been far too generous. When I insisted that she accept the gift, she opened it, her fingers trembling with eagerness. I can’t begin to describe her face when she saw her watermelon-slice coasters. Oh, how wonderful to bring so many feelings to these two dear friends!

Just see how proudly they are showing off their gifts!

I picked up each of my presents with trepidation anticipation. Every box or bag I opened was filled with delights. Then I opened my “big” gift: an incredible mirror framed by differently-shaped pieces of stained glass. Here’s a photo; it hangs, but I’m using it as a centerpiece on my dining room table, with three candles on it.

It was my last gift! I was free of Coaster Anxiety!

“Wait,” Lynne said. “Look under the mirror.”

I cautiously ran my fingers through the shredded paper. No lime coasters!

“I was kidding,” she said. “That’s just my shredded bills.”

FREE! I was really free!

As we were collecting discarded paper, ribbon, and bows, Lynne handed me one last gift she found under the tree. I could tell by the shape and feel that it was a book. A book is always safe. I hurriedly pulled off the paper and found a Blue Dog book. You may remember that I love Blue Dog; I didn’t want to tell Lynne that I already had this book. I was thinking that since it was a duplicate, I could remove some of my favorite prints from it and put them on the wall in my office with my other Blue Dog memorabilia. I graciously thanked her.

“Let’s look at it,” she suggested, and Laura nodded fervently. It was clear that they both love Blue Dog as much as I do.

I opened the cover and that’s when I realized that Lynne knew I already had this book. She had replaced the pages inside…

The lime-slice coasters have found their way home.

Just wait ’til next year.