Tags Off the Tree Branches

This first week of December is a time when many who've pulled tags from their local Giving Tree, whether at their church, or a general community one, maybe at the fire hall, or a library, are putting the final touches on their bundle. Certain groups have everyone wrap their packages ahead of time & then leave the tags attached to the wrapped items. Other groups request all items are "brought in" unwrapped (& then a volunteer team wraps them).

Getting a tag (sometimes multiple tags) has more frequently than not been a part of my early December preparation. I used to thoroughly enjoy finding music requests, or requests for hobby supplies. It meant a lot to me to be able to connect with what I'd be preparing.

Mom & Dad got us started on supporting Giving Trees (or as they're also called: Angel Trees). Mom sometimes persuaded [read: limited] our selection. If a tag were for these, these, these, or these, we'd be able to pick out one, maybe two items to fulfill a tag. The meaning behind the Giving Tree just didn't seem an appropriate time of the year for this.

I'm also reminded of a Christmas where Mom learned of what I'd be gifting her grandkids &, knowing that they'd be growing out of the few of these that she had "on hand", she insisted that I include them in what I'd be wrapping up as she already had plenty she planned to wrap & gift to them. I went along with it, though it didn't feel right (maybe also because she unconsciously saying that I didn't have nearly that much I was preparing to wrap for each of them).

As the kids opened up the items & thanked me for them I felt completely separated from them - both the gifts & the kids. On top of that, the kids' interest in these "extras" from their grandmother ultimately undermined that which I'd gifted them solely from me, & crafted by me.

Somewhere in the flurry of this awkwardness I recognized that, to me, gifting was special, no matter what it was, or who it was to, when I'd connected with the person & the gift, almost as if I'd be playing a matching game & "won a round" by matching up this person with this gift.

At my original watering hole of a Giving Tree there'd been some discrepancies & it'd been determined that gift cards for retailers that were purchased through the organization, would be the way the Giving Tree would continue. I accepted this, although I didn't get the same "complete" feeling as I'd come to know. I knew this wasn't wrong; however I also knew I could work on improving the situation on my own; I was welcome to browse other Giving Trees.

Last year I happened upon one. It was truly thrilling. There were plenty of tags on the tree when I stopped to select mine & many were for items I could fulfill. I sent an image to a friend with the hashtag "#overachiever" when I'd finished collecting & preparing what I planned to drop off.

This was the request on the tag. Not knowing if this eight year old girl had short hair or long hair, I generously tossed into my cart various accessories fitting both hair types including at least one of these & these. After all, I had special coupon points at the store with which I'd been planning to shop.

Soon enough I realized I also had an extra copy of this classic book, so I put that in my pile for this eight year old too. I had some yarn handy, so getting out my crochet hooks only made sense; I was on a roll. I was able to stitch up a special bag which could fit all of the hair accessories inside. And a franchise store had their annual bear brand available, which I thought might be a special added touch for an eight year old to enjoy. She'd neither be too old, nor too young for these extra fun items.

I typed up a quick note explaining why I'd included the items that I did, mentioning that I'd happened upon the bears & thought of her, & that I had an extra copy of the book. I further explained of my crocheting hobby & that I'd delighted in preparing the buttoned bag for these special finds I had for her.

And then I took the items in their store plastic bags back to the building where this year's Giving Tree sat. This became another, unexpected positive as I'm not a fan at all of wrapping packages. I placed the plastic bags into an identified collection bin for such a purpose & I felt 🎁🎄🌟💗😍 Christmas 😍💗🌟🎄🎁. I might just have smiled for the rest of the day.


(Overdose of emojis used to exemplify glittery feeling felt inside.)





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