Giving

As I've often said, one of my favorite rooms in my home is my craft room.  I've just come from there.  On Saturday night, I'll be hosting a gift-giving demonstration at House to Home in honor of Mother's Day and it occured to me that not only should I give away things from the shop, but from my home as well.  After all, what mother wouldn't enjoy a lovely teacup, all prettied up?  The second thing I embellished will remain a secret until it's given away that night.  One of the ways in which I enjoy my life and one of the things in which I'm especially known is as a gift giver.  It provides such contentment and such joy to offer even a little something to someone.  On Saturday night, most of the people there will be unknown to me.  The feeling I get will be the same.  I can see it in the looks on their faces and the joy in their eyes as the gift is handed over to them.  As one woman said to me many years ago, Eric, you simply can't give it away.  I knew immediately what she meant.  There was a point in my teacup gathering, for example, at which I decided to give away all the cups I had collected myself and keep only those that were given to me.  I now have at least a hundred from all the people in my life and I admit that I have gathered at least a hundred more.  If the Queen makes her way back to Newfoundland, I'm sure I'll be considered as the perfect host home for a regal tea party.  I served a King once with my china (yes, a real live King) so I guess I really need to round out the experience by setting a table for the female equivalent.   Tomorrow, I like to think I'll be a guest at the famous wedding, so I'll be sat in front of the television with my own teacup in hand.   I think it will be the one my Mom gave me many years ago.  It's among the prettiest I own.  You'll see another one just as pretty on Saturday night.  I can't wait.