An Open Letter To My Family [or, something to think about regarding your gifts]

Dear Family:

It's Christmas, yay! And our first "engagement" or get together or whatever-you-want-to-call-it is Saturday! yay!
And all of your gifts are done. And by done I mean done. I cast off and wove in the ends of the last knitting on Monday at approximately 11:12 AM (yes, I checked, because it really was a monumental task). And I'm proud that I am done, and that I not only managed to make so many things, but that they are done well ahead of when they needed to be. I even sent the gifts that needed to be mailed last week (and USPS has told me, via tracking numbers, that they have been received).
I'm super proud. And super glad to be done.

But, I do have some reservations.

One, what if you don't like what you've gotten?!
Well, honestly, just give it back. Ha! I quite like everything that I knitted. I tried to choose colors that you would like, but I will not blame you if you do not. If you feel the desire to trade amongst yourselves, this is also allowed. But seriously, I was guessing, so far as if you would like the item and the color. This is also why I'm using gift tags that say "This was not on your list" (which I found here) - because only one person out of everyone is getting something they actually asked for.

Second, what if you don't appreciate that I handknit something for you for Christmas?
Well, that means you're an evil person. Or something like that.
Okay, maybe "evil" is harsh. But it's true. The time was spent, the patterns were learned, and the yarn was purchased. The feelings of "oh I want this to be done" and the feelings of "oh I don't want to give this away" (both happening concurrently at times) are very strong for all of these projects.
If you cannot appreciate this, then please, give it back. Because I will love it for you.

Third, what if there are going to be people at these gatherings that I did not plan for?
I was not given a list. I went with the list that I created. The way it works out, if you got a Christmas card from me, you get a gift (or, pretty much). And if you did not get a card, well, that means that I was not expecting to see you. Sorry. That's just how it works out. As it stands, we aren't really all that close as a family as it is, so this is to be expected. Right? I don't know what's going on in your life to know who is going to be where, just as you have asked if the Mister was going to be at the gatherings. So, again, fair.

Fourth, is it over yet?
My Christmas-Mojo is gone. I'm done. I'm ready to check out. Really.
Honestly, I'm surprised that I was able to keep the energy going as long as I have. I've been planning Christmas since September. I'm mentally out. I will be present, but I may not be all that happy about it, because, well, as I said, I'm done.
Proof of this is simple. I had plans to make even more gifts, and it just wasn't going to happen, so I found some other way to give you something that is not handknit. I had plans of making tons of cookies. I have done zero Holiday baking. I may end up baking some cookies for our get together on Saturday, and I am obligated to make something for another gathering on Christmas Day (and that was sort of a last minute "oh, yeah, can you do this?" that I was not planning for) as it stands.

The actual "Christmas" is almost here, and I'm so glad.
Because that means we can get it over with and move on with our lives.
I was so excited for Christmas, remember? Well, that's the thing - I was excited. Now, I'm ready to move on. So let's.
And if you don't want warm, beautiful, fantastic handknits, hand 'em back. I won't be offended, I'll be pleased that I'll have more than one wearable knit for myself (as, you see, I've spent the past few months making things for all of you, when I could be making shawls and socks and scarfs and things for myself. But I didn't. Because I love you).

Merry Christmas!

~Havok

P.S. Look for a video on the 26th of December for a peek at all of the handknits I'm gifting this year!