Don't Judge a Gift by its Box

by Anita Benedict

It is a well-known fact among some of us that a really good box is not to be thrown out! What if you have to move suddenly, that pile of boxes will come in handy. Of course, if you move too suddenly, they might come tumbling down. Or what if you have to wrap a difficult gift, or 10 at once, you are set with a perfect gift box.

   Imagine the surprise when they open that gift, nestled in a cracker box. Is it crackers? No, it is a t-shirt and the much-desired underwear. I have used cracker boxes, KD boxes, tissue boxes and last year, a chocolate bar box. This box had been full of full-size bars for Halloween. Oh, how nicely it opened and shut, just like an expensive one.

   This box had proven to give us the greatest laugh. I had used it for a new member in the family. I guess she was not familiar with the trend. I filled this former chocolate box with local goodies,

like a sweet pottery bowl by local artist Selma Potter (Lois Golfman in Selma) I swear it had an image of a lighthouse in it. There was lavender product from Homestead Lavender in Urbania and the piece de resistance; a T-shirt from Burntcoat Head Park - World’s Highest Recorded Tides. Did I mention she was opening this in New Brunswick?

   She and my son did not spend last Christmas together, and he told her she had to wait to open the gift. I told him she did not, but it was too late, she was on her way home to NB. She did open them once she arrived up there, at least the sock of goodies I put together. But the box of local goodies was not to be found.

   We blamed my son for losing it in his car; you would understand if you saw it. We imagined it being lost in the Christmas Chaos. To his credit, the boy never told her it contained a matching T-shirt when she questioned his, he held onto the hope it would be found. Then, I was forced to apologize to him the other day. The gift was found.

   The young woman received a text image from her mother and it was forwarded to me then followed with a phone call. “Look Familiar?” he said. It took a few minutes for me to clue in and

then I had the greatest laugh. That lovely solid box, with easy closing lid full of lovely local treats, was thought to be 18 full size chocolate bars.

   I forgot what I had packaged them in by December and had never thought to mention that we recycle boxes. It has become a fact of life for us…always check the boxes as contents may not

be as they appear. The boy remembered receiving a toothpaste box and thought nothing of receiving toothpaste as a gift. It took him a bit to realize there was a lovely ornament inside.

Now the kids know to check.

   So, all’s well that ends well. The lovely lady will have to wait now till she visits NB again for her Christmas gift, and I shall plan her gift for next year, not chocolate. Time to look for the perfect gift box.