I don’t know what it is with me and wrapping presents. It isn’t a terrible activity, but it certainly isn’t one I relish.  In fact, I usually procrastinate it down to the day of, if not the hour before I have to leave.

When I lived in Japan, I took full advantage of department stores that offered to wrap my purchases.  I would just tell them it was a present for someone (puresento desu) and they would do an excellent job of wrapping the gift up, often only needed a sticker from the store to seal it up.  This is a far cry from the metres of cellophane tape I seem to need.  My family and friends were also appreciative because they got some well wrapped gifts from me for a change.

At one point, I gave up completely and started buying bags from the dollar store. This was okay, except that some people did this with a flourish–lots of ribbons, tissue paper, and elegant origami swans–that it became even more daunting.  I also tended to buy the wrong size bad and either had one way too big or way too small.  This didn’t bother me, but the looks I got from the recipients said it all.

I’ve got a birthday party for one of my nephews and because I am committed to other things this week, I was afraid that I wouldn’t have time to wrap the gift Saturday morning as planned. So, unlike so many other times, I decided to wrap the gifts tonight.  That’s two whole days before the event.

Obviously accomplishing the very procrastinate-able task is Today’s Perfect Moment.

I am not sure my young nephew will like the gift, and since it is one of those things that he and his father might have to do together, my brother might not like it either. However, I think it’s pretty cool, so I have no regrets.