For some odd reason, I had a flashback and remembered the old wrapping paper we used to have back in the day. It was sort of a metallic green and came from the Goldsmith’s Department Store in Memphis (now Macy’s). I think my grandfather was the one who brought it home.

I remember it was an industrial sized roll, and I got used to seeing most of my presents in that green paper wrapping. It wasn’t overly festive or even technically Christmas-y. It was just plain green wrapping paper. FYI, if you watch the scene in A Christmas Story where Ralphie and his brother are opening all their gifts on Christmas Day, you’ll catch a glimpse of some green wrapping paper very similar to the one I knew so well.

Honestly, I can’t tell you much of what came wrapped in that metallic green. I’d be lucky if I could recall maybe 1% of all the presents I received from all the Christmases in my childhood.

What I do remember are the people who gave me those gifts. Even back then, I knew that a lot of thought and love went into those presents. I wish I knew then as I know now that the greatest gifts were those people.

If memory serves, I think we finally used the last of that wrapping paper last Christmas. It was truly the end of an era. Now all that’s left are the memories I keep. But maybe those are better than any old wrapping paper anyway.