Gifts in Ugly Packages

I recently wondered why we put so much effort into the outside of the gifts we give. Aren't we all ready giving something wonderful? Why does it have to be "well dressed" also? Now, sometimes, pretty packages have some pretty crummy gifts inside. If you have ever watched National Lampoons "Christmas Vacation", you may have notice the well wrapped gifts from Aunt Bethany. Unfortunately, one package is leaking a substance(Jello Salad, we later find out) and the other is meowing, (yes Aunt Bethany wrapped her cat.) So, again I ask what does the outside of the gift matter? I'm going to tell you about a gift I received from a darn nasty, ugly package; my dad. On the outside he was a drunk; he was gone alot, drank alot, faught alot with my mom, and made promises that weren't kept. He also had some pretty inappropriate behaviours, and by all means I should've hated the man. Everyone else did! Well, I couldn't; I'm his daughter and a daughter just wants her daddy, no matter what package he comes in. I never got the gift I thought I wanted from him, to really be a dad, but I did get an incredible gift through a random act of "daddiness". When ever it stormed, my dad would grab us kids and sit on the porch or in the garage and we would watch it roll in. With all it's roaring winds, flashing lightning and booming thunder, we would sit there until the rain was blowing in our faces and then we would go inside and watch some more. I can't remember a time that I was afraid of storms. I remember this story my dad used to tell at the dinner table; yes it was on a stormy night: VENGEANCE By Walter Wheatley

Dark and dreary was the night, A storm was drawing nigh, In vivid streaks the lightning flashed, Athwart the leaden sky . But see, from out the lonely wood s There stands a vengeful man, A bloodstained club is firmly grasped Within his strong right hand . Like a spectre from the unknown world He glides upon his foe , A murderous look gleams in his eye As he readies for the blow . The club is raised—and then, alas , It falls with a sickening thud, And there upon the dark, cold ground Lies murdered. . .a potato bug. I was so intrigued and waiting with anticipation to find out who was murder, and then to get that! Oh we laughed. To this day, I watch the storms roll in. If they are predicted and fade out I am quite disappointed. There is such excitment waiting to see what mother nature will do that I am pretty let down when she fizzles out on me. Maybe the disappointment is not in the fact that the storm doesn't come, it's in the fact that the memory isn't called to life. I am passing this gift on to my grandchildren. They will receive the gift from a pretty cool package though ;-) Next time you are wrapping a gift and putting pretty bows or tissue paper inside if it's a bag, consider wrapping it in awful paper or a dirty box. The expectation will be less, but the gift will be more exciting. Then try to think about a gift you were given from an awful package. There might not be one, but if you don't think about it, it might go unrecognized as a gift. Happy gifting and getting.