45 years ago

My mom sewed this elf on an ancient sewing machine when I was 4. I remember her cutting the leather and I have likely suppressed some of the cussing. I knew that she worked hard to make these elves and so when I asked her for the pattern, I meant it. Instead, she sewed me a dozen elves that year. I cried when I opened the box. I mean my shoulders heaved and snot came from my nose. These were not only happy tears. they were true tears of joy. Last year, ten years after my mom had died, I was allowed to pick up the things she had left me. My mom had asked that I not take the stuff of my inheritance immediately as she didn't want me to take things that my stepdad might value and hurt him. The stepsister, Karla, who invited me over was very generous and when I saw these, the original elves that my mama had made, she told me to take them. There were six. Others had been lost, put on gifts to be given to valued others, left on trees by the curb(easier than you would think. So I gave six of the new ones to my youngest, who had them on every tree she had shared with me, and kept 12. The owls I made last year. I prefer handmade things, or gifts given from the heart rather than the stuff from a list. I do sincerely hope that you find a gift under your tree that makes you happy enough to tear up. If it makes you ball like a toddler, even better. May the eve and day of Christmas fill your heart with joy that will last for years to come.