The Joys of Secret Santa...and Secret Santa Paws too

"Sophie Investigates the Secret Santa Paws Package"- Photo by K L Wood

Last Christmas, 2019, seems a whole lot longer than just one year ago. I think we need a new time measurement for 2020. You know, like one dog year equals seven human years—although that old adage has come into dispute, lately. I propose one 2020 year equals ten "normal" years. (And that, I believe, will remain indisputable.) 

Anyway, one year ago, our growing family decided it would be easier to handle, both time-wise and finance-wise, if the adults exchanged names for Christmas gift-giving for the following year. (The children would continue to receive gifts from everyone.) We picked names from an elf hat and kept them secret until Christmas 2020 gift-opening time. This led to a year of surreptitious glances and thinly

"Sophie Keeping an Eye on the Secret Santa Paws Gifts"- Photo by K L Wood

disguised inquires of clothing sizes, ears pricked to any mention of needed items, and grateful perusing of Amazon Wish Lists. It really has been great fun and a wonderful way to share (even if by video chat!) 

2020 was also our introduction to the doggy version of Secret Santa through our dogs' participation in the FaceBook group I wrote about in September, Nibblers-Patterdale Wanderers FC. Secret Santa Paws delivered gifts all over the world! 

"Some Nibbler Mates"—photos submitted by the Nibblers

"Some More Nibbler Mates"- Photos submitted by the Nibblers

The organizer kindly and wisely matched those on their respective continents to save on postage and delivery time. (Delivery time being an especially great challenge this past year!) Our dogs, five-year-old Sophie, and fourteen-year-old Minna, were the happy recipients of gingerbread squeaky toys and yummy doggy cookies! Thank you, Secret Santa Paws! (I've included more photos submitted by the Nibblers. Such a darling group of dogs and their human “beans.)

"Minna with her Secret Santa Paws Gift"—photo by K L Wood

From our home to yours, we wish you the simple joy of keeping sweet secrets and the pleasure of selfless giving (and the not-so-selfless receiving, too!)

Thanks for stopping by. Y'all come back, now. 

(And Warmest Wishes for a Merry Christmas season and a Very Hopeful New Year!)

Kate

Toilet Paper...and other uncommon gifts

"A Snowy Buttercup Cottage Christmas, Jan. 4, 2017" photo by KLWood

It's gift-giving (and receiving) season, once again. We have an old friend who often surprises us with his unique choice of gifts. Among, many: a toy, zebra-striped bedroom slippers, and a particularly memorable one, a roll of toilet paper.

"Yo-Kai Whisper" photo by KLWood

The toy was a strange, little, plastic creature. It looked a bit like a ghost (as in one of Casper the Friendly Ghost's cohorts,) with one white "arm" held up at its side. Turning questioning eyes to the gift-giver, I cocked my quizzical head and raised my eyebrows.

"Go, ahead," he said, grinning. "Pull his arm down." Feeling like I was pulling down the handle of one of those "one-armed bandit" gambling slot machines, I did as instructed. I was rewarded with a silly, blubbery response and a voice telling me to ask a question and shake him. A bit, dubiously, I asked if it was going to rain and shook the creature. "It shall be, because Whisper agrees." Ha! It was a kind of "Magic 8 Ball" toy. 

It had a number of settings, including "Words of Wisdom" and would even suggest a lottery number for the day. Sitting idle for a few moments, it spluttered out a "raspberry" at me. Turns out, certainly unbeknownst by the gift-giver, it was a Japanese anime character—one of the Yo-Kai, named "Whisper." Our granddaughters knew exactly what/who it was and decided our friend was cooler than they had formerly thought. It was perfect, the next Halloween, when I dressed up as a mysterious witchy kind of woman and carried it around as my "spirit guide," answering the questions put to it by friends and, in the cafe, complete strangers, who giggled again, like children. The joyful gift of silly laughter.

"Zebra Slippers" photo by KLWood

One Christmas, he gave my husband and me each a pair of slippers. Mine were, for me, an uncharacteristically vibrant pair of black and white zebra-striped ones. Not my usual earth-toned, blend-in-with-the-background L. L. Bean types. Hmmmm. But, let me tell you. Those slippers kind of glow in the dark and, without any backs to them, they are perfect for locating and slipping into at my bedside for those cold, winter, middle-of-the-night-dark, foot-paddings to the bathroom! Thank you, my friend, for the kindly gift of comfort.

That brings us to the gift of toilet paper. Eyes twinkling, like Santa pulling a treasure from his toy sack, he pulled a roll out of his bag, and presented it to me. "Here! I thought it might come in handy with all your extra holiday visitors visiting the bathroom." Once I lowered my eyebrows to a more typical position, I nodded and thanked him, very much. And you know, he was right. That roll of toilet paper absolutely came in handy. The thoughtful gift of practicality.

"The Gift of Toilet Paper" photo by KLWood

There's one more thing about our friend's gift-giving. He doesn't limit it to Christmas or other special occasions. He shows up at our door bearing gifts for no particular reason other than to share and express his gratitude for our friendship. The delightful gift of the unexpected.

So, here's to you all, this gifting time of year. Maybe think outside the box (unless it's a box of tissues, perhaps!) May you give and receive gifts joyful, kindly, thoughtful, and unexpected.

Thanks for stopping by. Y'all come back, now!

And Merry Christmas!

Kate