The Paper Trail

My little sister is a crafter. She carries with her, almost everywhere we go, a shoe box with paper, markers, scissor, glue, stickers, beads, string, and whatever other crafty items she happens to be obsessed with at the time (which for everyone’s sake, is hopefully not glitter). From this box, she leaves a little paper trail wherever she goes. If it weren’t for the wonderful little treasure she produced, these remnants of her projects would be enough to drive a person, especially a mother, absolutely insane. But my sister is a tender-hearted girl that tries to make everyone filled loved, and showing her affection often comes in the form of the projects that emerge from this little craft box. She’s constantly producing cards, pictures, origami swans and hearts, and any other things from her imagination that she can bring to life. For Father’s Day this past year, however, she had something a little out of the ordinary, yet very fitting planned for my daddy.

                My dad is a Coke drinker. Every day when he gets home from work, he sits down to read the paper and drink his Coke. Along with drinking Coke, his favorite T-shirt happens to be his classic, red, “Drink Coca-Cola” T-shirt, which my mom must replace periodically so he won’t continue wearing it even when it has holes in it. With this in mind, my little sister made dad’s Father’s Day gift: a coke can with a paper model of dad on it. She cut out a picture of his head, taped glued it to a cut out Coca-Cola T-shirt, glued to a pair of blue jeans, with two flexing arms coming out from behind the sleeves of the shirt. A perfect replica of dad, stuck on his favorite thing- a can of Coke.

                This homemade gift was perfect. In it you could see Abby’s meticulous craftiness- the pieces glued on together very precisely, and her desire to please dad by giving him something she knew he’d love, with her own personal touch added. The gift is a reflection of dad, both literally and figuratively- the can of Coke, his favorite outfit comprised of his T-shirt and blue jeans, his beloved muscles (which he likes to show off frequently), and the crazy face he’s making in the picture- are all of a physical likeness of him, but also show his personality. He’s laid-back and casual, funny and crazy to no end, and wants us to think he’s the coolest dad ever. Which of course, we do! This was one of the best gifts I have seen given and received, because it was a perfect reflection of both the giver and receiver, something no store-bought gift could have rivaled.