re-gifting

Bushy, the Family Mascot

Grandma’s house all packed up -

Ugly kitschy handmade crafts

Like beaded styro-Easter eggs,

Latchhook koala prints,

and advent Christmas wreathes,

Divvied among the grandchildren.

We being so “lucky” to attain

Bushy, the glass, nut-eating squirrel paper weight

That “accidentally” hopped in my brother’s family van

Upon our departure,

Only mailed to me later in the week

But resealed and returned to sender,

Until Bushy showed up on our doorstep

With a chocolate-heart-covered Valentine nut.

Then, Bushy snuck back to my brother’s fam,

Hiding as a toilet-paper holder in the bathroom

For Easter.

Not to be outdone, Bushy came back bearing

A May Day basket of cashews.

No worries though,

Bushy rallied with

A little duct tape, cardboard, and a shoestring-end tassel

To make a fine mortarboard

Dropped off on the reception table at Jilly’s graduation.

Oh, Bushy’s a sly one

But he’s the gift that keeps on giving

The whole year through…