What gives?

I have this friend. Let's call her Petunia.

Every Christmas Eve, Petunia's family holds a party. Uncles and aunts and cousins all gather together under one roof for one night only in order to ingest carbs en masse, down a few drinkypoos, and exchange gifts. Sounds like a regular barrel o' monkeys, eh?

More like a barrel of Big Mouth Billy Bass.

Gift giving is not exactly her family's forte. The words kitschy, cheesy, tacky, and Cracker Barrel all come to mind in regards to the bounty of wrapped rubbish that exchanges hands that evening. In short, every Christmas Eve my friend further refines her acting abilities as she has to smile smile smile through whatever pile of imitation Hickory Farms beef and cheese baskets, Monkey Farts scented candle/body wash gift sets, or gifts in a jar were being sold at the Christmas Tree Shoppe that season. And when she gets home, she has a cardboard box awaiting her that she fills to the brim with Christmas carnage fated for Goodwill.

But, it wasn't always this way.

Now, Petunia's family has always been terrible at gift giving, God love 'em. But, for years she would actually hang onto this junk. Out of some sense of obligation to the gift givers, she would use the stuff, decorate her room with it, and even wear it (FYI: Avon should stick to cosmetics).

Until one day a friend set her free.

Petunia watched in shock and awe as her friend opened a gift she had received earlier that day, and promptly threw it in the trash. When Petunia had managed to remove her mandible from the floor, she inquired as to how her friend could justify such behavior. The friend explained that she appreciated both the gift and the giver, and that the disposal of the gift didn't detract from those feelings. But, just because the person had given her something, she was under no obligation to keep it.

Brilliant.

So, as the season of giving approaches, be released.

Receive the gift.

Appreciate the gift and the giver.

And then chunk that plastic bag doll in the Goodwill box where it belongs.