TOThis year too we met with our best friends, a few days before Christmas, for the canonical exchange of gifts. The friends, over time, have not remained the same. After all, Lucio Dalla said it well: “And without major disturbances someone will disappear, perhaps it will be those who are too smart etc etc…”.
The ritual, however, continues: an available house, well decorated, to create atmosphere. A tree or something that decently supports its part. But above all a festive Christmas spirit, because there are far too many grumbles going around. And so, let the greeting ceremony of what is now our “elected family” begin.
The gifts are normally arranged in the middle of the circle of friends, each equipped with a greeting card, still written by hand, with a possibly witty and ad personam thought. This year, however, there is something that catches the eye: the packages are almost gone. In their place, many bright envelopessome equipped with a charming pop-up, others with a built-in Christmas music, which plays when you open them, giving us a jolt.
Antonella Baccaro (photo by Carlo Furgeri Gilbert).
They call it “dematerialization”, but for us older girls, it could be called “defatigation”: and who feels like dragging the big bag of presents that made us laugh so much 20 years ago? We all magically agreed on this. Therefore unpacking this year has become a kind of There’s mail for youwhere the envelope, however, must be opened.
Inside, we put our mutual advice. And so, the friend “who never has time for herself” is given a magnificent spa treatment, destined to expire unused. For the one who is addicted to crime series, a TV subscription that will lead her to give up, once again, common evening outings. For the glutton, a voucher for a basket of health products that will lie sadly in her pocket tray.
Because gifts, even those that are born with the best intentions, we never know where they will end up. One of mine, for example, came back to me after having a rich tour of other people’s drawers. Ah, the magic of Christmas!
Do you want to share emotions, memories, reflections with us? Write to us at [email protected]
Antonella Baccaro’s articles on I Woman and on Corriere della Sera.