There are some people who give the rest of us a bad rap. You know the ones I am talking about. They have had their Christmas and Hanukkah shopping finished since October.

Their gift selections have been neatly wrapped and labeled. If they actually wrap gifts, they don’t have to use half a roll of Scotch tape like I do. The corners of their packages are sharp and emblazoned with matching ribbons.

With the invention of holiday gift bags, people like me are spared some of the embarrassment of messy gift wrapping. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy tackling an oversized roll of Santa-covered wrapping paper from the local dollar store. Sometimes I just like the challenge of making something look special.

Growing up, it was our custom to use newspapers to wrap our gifts. We would save the colorful comics sections for weeks to make the process a little more festive than just black and white newsprint.

I know that concept would send some fussy gift wrappers into a frenzy. You don’t know the pressure of having a mother-in-law who was a professional gift wrapper at the former Stone and Thomas store in downtown Wheeling.

She could wrap anything to look like a million dollars with her eyes closed. She could look at a package and measure it with a piece of string to determine how much paper to use without wasting even a sliver. It was a talent to behold. People used to visit the gift wrap desk at the store just to watch her and the other wrappers perform their magic.

As for having my holiday shopping completed, I didn’t have much choice than to finish up with online purchases. As I sit and compose this column, I am nursing the results of surgery to install an artificial knee in my right leg. I put it off as long as I could, but the doctor knew it was time. My wonderful orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Scheel, made sure I was wrapped up tight for Christmas.

I am looking forward to an interesting new year as I recuperate. Until then, have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas — gift wrapped or not!

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.