Christmas is just around the corner and I am having thoughts of Christmas past. My mother-in-law Salome had a reputation of unwrapping any gift in her house to see what was inside and re-wrapping the gift. She spoiled the surprise for everyone including herself. Everyone knew she did this despicable thing but she will go to her grave denying this fact.

Every year, I went to great lengths to tease my mother-in-law at the holidays. One year I started by placing a plastic tarantula in a gift box, taped the box with a roll tape and placed it under her tree three weeks before Christmas with a note, “Do not open till Christmas.” On Christmas day each year I would remove the box before she was to open it. The next year I would place it in a bigger box and maybe add a couple of rocks for weight and once again remove the box Christmas day. She attempted to find wrapping paper to match mine so she could open the package. She even went as far as to call me one year to find out where I purchased my beautiful wrapping paper. After three years I let her open this gift. She was not happy that she waited so long for so little.