My Christmas giving was scarred for life by an experience in my teen years. Brother1 and I went in together to get Brother2 a pocket knife. Brother2 was about 11 at the time. For those of you who know LightBoy, they share many characteristics. All the good ones. Brother1 and I were fairly unwitting in our choice of gift. We knew it was desired, but we were unaware of the depth of desire. All I can remember of the moment of unveiling is Brother2 sitting on our old rickety sofa, with the Buck Knife cradled in his 2 hands as if it were the Hope Diamond, repeating over and over,

“Buck.”

“Knife.”

“OHhhhhhh”

There just aren’t many gifts in one’s life that can match that. I’ve given up trying. Sort of. There’s a little piece of me that wants to achieve it each year, but I’ve finally realized that it is indeed fruitless to attempt it.

I came close this year. I gave LightHusband a lens for his camera that he’s been joking about for quite some time. Only apparently it wasn’t a joke. So here are two of the many photos he’s taken with it since he took it out of the box. He has not yet sent me my favorite … maybe I’ll post it later this evening.

Here is LightGirl in a moment of rest after she opened her goalie gear. She then wore said gear for the remainder of the opening. It was amusing to open gifts with a sta-puf marshmallow girl. 😉

Here is a rooster that hangs in one of my kitchen windows. Isn’t he colorful? He was supposed to go to my mother. Sorry LightMom. But I liked him too much after I got him. So he stayed here. The LightQueenMother got lighted knitting needles instead.