In his brief stint as a “talk show host”, Arsenio Hall used to reference “One of those things that make you say…Hmmmmm.”
I live with a wonderful woman who suffers to remind me this time of year of the quip that the stereotype man struggles to wrap a key ring in ten yards of wrapping paper while the typical woman manages to wrap the Goodyear blimp in about 6-inches and STILL have left over. So this year’s reminder was accompanied by today’s story from the Washington Post:
“The advent of the holidays has caused the following to occur:
A British e-tailer is offering to wrap gifts bought by its male customers in such a way that they will look exactly as if the gift-giver did the unsightly job himself. The service costs about $6 and includes unevenly cut paper and lots of brown parcel tape, but no ribbons or bows.
The wrapping is done by 20 of the Firebox.com’s male forklift drivers and warehouse assistants. They have been given no instructions other than to work as fast as possible. Just like at your house.”
As one of my office mates enjoys saying, “I resemble that remark.”
So with this rather off-topic note, let me wish all of you and yours the very best for you Nativity, Christmas, and Yule tide feasts. No we’ll never be “ready”… we’re Orthodox! after all… but the feast comes all the same. This year’s season offers a real chance… a welcome respite from the hustle, bustle and bother… the news of one bad thing followed by another… and a chance to simply focus on those things closest to us, our hearts, our family, and most of all… our Lord. And as fast gives way to feast, as preparation yields to Incarnation, and as Christ is Born… Let us Glorify Him!
And even wrap quickly … with lots of paper…brown tape and all… if not well. Merry Christmas!
jamesthethickheaded