AND SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS

It's the day before Christmas.
God we are back here so quickly.
For many years, I usually spend the day before Christmas at Rustan's Alabang snapping up last-minute gifts. I used to like it because I get the sales attendants' full attention, who make it a point to wrap each and every one of my purchases, and shower me with freebies like sprigs of Eucalyptus, some tinsel, and others to jazz up my gifts.
This year, I am in no rush, though I will have to spend the afternoon to wrap the gifts for my family.
The tradition of gift-giving is new to me. There has always been an exchange of gifts at Christmas with my family, but I learned it as an art only fairly recently, in the early 90s, from my friend P, who did them in style, always putting great thoughts into every gift she gave away. Now based in Virginia, she sends me customized cards with pictures of her two lovely toddlers S and E in the snow.
Since learning the art from Pia, a lot of other people have come into the picture to help me master the art, such as my art director friend I and my florist friend R, the floral architect of the Philippines, who both taught me what is in the box is even more special when the box is wrapped in a special way. The wrapping is a showcase of your thoughtfulness.
Learning the art was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it always makes me happy and special to have given out something beautiful and a curse because it is such a hassle to find the right gift for each and every single person in my rapidly growing universe.
This year, I resolved to put more attention to the gifts I gave to the people who made my life work, often thanklessly: my valet at the office, the guard who takes care of my mail and packages, the guard who helps me load stuff in my car when it is time to go home, the IT people whom I bother tirelessly for my computer needs, the carpenters who created the modular office I wanted for my staff and repainted my room in the color my feng shui adviser recommended, etc. I wish I could give them more. I wish I could give them enough to make sure they have Noche Buena to remember tonight.
In the next week, when I go back to the office to wrap up work for the year, I'm going to have to give more gifts to more people. I didn't make a list, so now I feel so many more deserve a gift from me.
I have yet to give myself a gift, but I feel I am out of budget already. I've been thinking maybe I deserve a great gift this Christmas, perhaps an IWC. Well, maybe next Christmas.
In meantime, I will shower myself with gratitude: gratitude that I am in a position to put a smile on somebody's face, although I think, like me, we are all in the same position no matter what position we think we are in, if only we assume it.
Happy Christmas!