"The Gift That Keeps On Giving" by Marie Mitchell

—the family gift exchange.
A memento of special occasions becomes the gift nobody wants but everyone expects.

 —the family gift exchange

A memento of special occasions becomes the gift nobody wants but everyone expects.

 

Writing has been Marie Mitchell’s lifelong passion—from scribbling snippets of dialogue on board game score cards, to penning a Doctor Doolittle play in sixth grade, to collaboratively authoring short stories, books, and plays with her husband, Mason Smith, and other professors at Eastern Kentucky University where she now teaches.

Before teaching, Marie spent an incredible 24 years as News Director of public radio station WEKU, and has penned a column for The Richmond Register since 2007.

She’s currently working on a book about cryptids, monsters, and aliens in Kentucky.

Author’s Talk

Marie Mitchell

There’s no one way a family tradition starts.

Somehow it just begins. Naturally.

 It can be sneaky like that.

You instinctively do something because that’s how you’ve seen a relative do it growing up.

You don’t question it.

You just repeat it. Step by step. For better or for worse.

And soon enough, your own children are following the pattern.

Perhaps it’s baking a special dish for the holidays.

Or gifting everyone matching pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Maybe it’s growing, harvesting and canning veggies from the garden—the old fashioned way.

Whatever it is, it becomes something meaningful to you and your family.

A powerful memory. Worth repeating.

You may not realize it in the moment.

It takes time to grow. Organically.

That’s what happened with the plastic parrot, which started off as a prank.

A one-off.

Which slowly built momentum. And became legendary. At least for our family.

It’s something we talk about at the dinner table.

It keeps us connected with those who might be miles apart.

We stay engaged—scheming to dress the parrot for its next appearance.

Composing an amusing letter in its voice.

Planting it in an inconspicuous place.

Waiting for the satisfying moment of discovery.

Sharing the laughs.

Anticipating the next sighting.

Passing the torch to the next generation.

There’s no limit to the imagination, creativity and bonding that emerges by preserving such a tradition.

Be on the lookout for your own family traditions. They’re there.

You just have to notice and nurture them.

- Maire Mitchell