Runs in the Family

My grandmother, who we call Baachan, is a great influencer of our family culture. She loves paper; my mom loves paper; my aunt loves paper; my cousin loves paper; I love paper.

Here she is at home amongst wedding presents for her granddaughter:

[Related side story: When I put my gift bag (decorated with M. and M.’s wedding invitation image) on the table, my mom said, “Oh, I was going to do something like that!” Seriously. Our family.]

Baachan is the only person I know with a filing system for her greeting cards. She wakes up early on the day after Christmas, not to hit the shopping mall sales, but to beeline to the Hallmark store to stock up on the next year’s Christmas gift wrap.

Her gifts are always beautifully presented, wrapped in quality paper with classic designs. Even when she sends a card with birthday money, the bills or check are – without fail – wrapped neatly in tissue paper and sealed with a sticker. My grandma is the real deal.

Here is one of the presents Baachan wrapped for the wedding. Note the sheer fabric ribbon. Maybe this is where Auntie A. gets it!

Another funny story:
Auntie A.: [looking at the gift above] Mom, I thought you were going to use that other paper.
Baachan: I tried but it was too small. Then I decide to use this gold paper. [Shaking head] Jiichan [my grandpa] leaned on it and it got creased!

I had just started brainstorming for The Gifted Blog and hurried to write this conversation down.

Baachan is very neat. Her linen closets are labeled and orderly, and so are her wrapping supplies. There’s a place for each thing: the boxes, rolls of paper, and ribbons each get their own space.

Here is a detail that made me smile:

I am grateful for my family. The fact that there are things like gift wrapping that bind us together is fun.

Did you inherit any creative traits from your family? What is your family’s gift-wrapping culture?