we receive gifts often

accept + open them

But I am referring to specific gifts. They’re > forty years old! Little siblings’ gifts (the siblings then, not the gifts). Don’t know their exact age or what grade they were in, but venture between nine and ten, probably less. I still have them. Didn’t ask for them.

My youngest brother made a vessel in grade school and gave it to me. It is bright blue. Two years later, when my youngest sister got to the same grade, she made the same vessel and gave it to me. It is bright pink. They have been in every office where I’ve worked and at home, holding a myriad of things. I move things around to renew spaces. I went looking for them — thought I got rid of them but didn’t. Almost got rid of them a few times, but I guess I couldn’t.

Thank You ❣️

Another brother took woodworking in High School; he’s closer to my age, close as less-than-a-year younger. The box where I keep imperdibles (one of the funniest Spanish words, to me), which my brother did not make, reminds me of him and our childhood and closeness because when he saw it in my room, he asked where I got it.

 

“i could have made it”

he said, or something to that effect. It startled me. Yes, I still have it because of the memory. And because it is a great place to keep those imperdibles (literal translation: unlosables. I always think of the Spanish word before the English word): safety pins.

open the good

bless the not so good

•

I did not give my siblings anything in return, not that I recall. Except for heartache once when I called the cops on them — I felt it was warranted because they could have gotten hurt. A bunch of other boys and my brothers were lighting fireworks in our backyard while our parents were at work. O, and I spoiled a New Year’s Eve also — but that’s it. I think. I bet they would disagree. =)

Thinking of it now ~ forty years later, I am amazed (thrilled, even) that they chose to give me their first (and only) piece of handmade pottery.

If because you didn’t like it or someone made you give it to me: 😬 ShhH 😬