I know most people think that Christmas is about giving, but what about those who are on the receiving end? Christmas is the one time of the year where it's appropriate to be a graceful and thankful and even overwhelmed recipient. What would giving be without a receiver? Without a Givee, there wouldn't be a chance to be the Giver.

There are so many types of giving.

There's the sort of giving that happens when someone takes you under the wing and includes you in how they take care of themselves, which is a brand of sharing or mentoring. There's the kind  of giving where someone imagines what you might be missing and fills in something the givee never knew they could use or might want to have. There's the sort of gift that works like a tool that begs to be taken for the ride it deserves.

A long time ago, I used to turn up my nose at art that was functional. But I had to get over that attitude as a sign maker, because what I was doing was making art that had a practical, communicative use.

Guess that I couldn't come up with goofy stuff such as this if I hadn't experienced a change of heart.

These are the two charming guys who drew me to return to Hawaii before all the windows I had to paint were done. Didn't leave anyone in the lurch - I had my apprentice Gino ArteFino paint them for me. You might like to look at Gino's artwork too!

http://www.pbase.com/artefino/

Gino doesn't mention it on his website, but he's also an accomplished trumpet player and is the one responsible for composing the song everyone sings at birthdays now in Bolinas.

I've been studying humor lately, and Christmas humor in particular can be twistedly goofy. Every year I "gussy up" windows for businesses, many of whom expect me to to show up to do this regularly. I have three customers who I've been decorating for the holidays for more than thirty years.

I painted this window with the shiny gold ribbon. Most people would be suitably distracted by the beautiful classic car in front of the window.
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