since it’s Christmas…

It’s amazing how many things can happen in Christmas. Just when you think you see how Christmas is going to play out: a festive dinner with the family, a plane ticket home to the province, the torn gift wrappers lying around the living room, the sheer overflowing of happiness. Just when you think you got it all planned out, something unexpected happens and just turns Christmas around.

I wasn’t so optimistic about Christmas this year since: (1) the holidays fell on weekends and (2) I was going to be stuck in Manila. In spite of that I still managed to work up the Christmas spirit. I have the feeling a number of people watched Love Actually again, myself included. I think why we’re all stuck on the movie is because of how it shows that Christmas is a time for love and to remind ourselves to love always. It’s funny how in the movie, almost any foolish, outrageous, or daring act of love was justified by “since it’s Christmas.”

And since it’s Christmas, I think a story is due. A story of one particular Christmas present that really moved me, and had plastered a smile on my face for the morning. The story begins with a girl, a very special girl, who I decided to give a pretty Peanuts Moleskine planner to as a Christmas present. In the weeks that followed, I got word around in the office of how hard it was to find presents for men. And when I thought about it, it was quite true! I find it almost impossible to get something my dad would want for Christmas! That being said, I sent this special girl of mine a little wishlist containing 8 books that I would really love to read for 2012.

Two days before Christmas, I received a very curious text. It was from her and it had plainly asked me if I would be okay with any book on the list. “Yup!” I quickly replied. A moment later, as the text zipped through the network, I hurriedly typed and sent another text saying that shelling out cash wasn’t necessary to make my Christmas special. I admit myself that books at Fullybooked are quite pricey, and for that moment a strange thought seemed to linger in my imagination. I thought that nothing made more sense than that age old adage, “it’s the thought that counts.” Historical data suggests that I sometimes fit into the sentimental category where a personal, sincere Christmas card would already do the trick. This seemed like one of those times. The text was sent. And in no time a reply came buzzing in that she was going to send me an e-card instead, due to my request. With that I replied with a simple, “hehe okay” and spent the rest of the day counting the hours till Christmas, waiting for that e-card.

Christmas Eve. I woke up and took a seat on the sofa to play Dragon Age 2. Two hours passed before I was interrupted by a remark made by my mom. “Is this your package?” she asked. “Package? What package? From whom?” I thought. This was clearly something unexpected so I did what every thinking person should do before facing a conundrum such as this: I paused the game.

When my mom read the name of the sender, however, the truth and the surprise hit me like a band of angry darkspawn. It was her, she sent it! It was unmistakable: I had been punk’d.

It’s fascinating how a simple surprise can make all the difference. Opening the package I found a new copy of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky, a roll of Kodak color film, and a handwritten note. This whole blog actually is a just big thank you to the sweetest girl in the world, Martine*, for the wonderful present!

Thank you!!!

*Pen name by her request.

*Edited on December 28