pretty papers

when she was a child, the girl made a present for me in school, and wrapped it in potato print paper that she stamped herself. every christmas since, for at least three decades, i wrap one of her presents in this same paper, saved from one christmas to the next. and now the not-so-little girl continues this tradition. this christmas, she made her own decorated brown paper and wrapped one of my gifts in it. so today, as i pack away the holidays, i carefully smooth it and wrap the paper around a discarded paper towel tube, to keep it nice - so i can reuse it for many christmases to come.