Gift-Giving

Last 26 December, our family invited 35 underprivileged kids for some food and gifts. The kids were served birthday spaghetti, sandwiches, popcorn and grass jelly juice. Afterwards, loot bags were distributed, containing assorted toys and accessories. Before the kids left, they all gave Len a hearty greeting: "Merry Christmas, Ate Len!"

Most of the kids invited were Len's "kids," kids she once played with, kids she gave toys to, kids she sent to school. (At some point, I once referred to her as the Pied Piper of Hamelin, except that she didn't need a pipe to attract kids - kids were invariably attracted to her. And she always had games and treats for them, and she didn't have qualms about getting dirty and sweaty with them.)

The nice thing about this particular event is up until now, Len is still taking care of her kids. The toys and accessories we gave away all came from Len's store and these were stuff she herself bought when she was still alive.

Another gift-giving is scheduled for Friday, 2 January 2009. This time, the recipients will be entire families, grown-ups included, and we will be giving away mostly used clothes, stuffed toys, and bags.