Things that never happened:
I never made a velvet purse out of this shred from grandmothers past
I didn’t cover this board with a remnant implying dreamier, sweeter surroundings
I couldn’t be bothered to form and re-form the ribbon into a prettier swoosh

Instead, bringing my eye to what was already real, I made myself see that even if it only looks so-so, I still love it.  Left just where it was, the un-selfconscious ribbon became a present from a giver who I am always meeting for the first time.

Then the light started shining, and I felt happy.