Pity the poor ‘Grinch’ who stole decorative gift boxes from yard

My family and I take great pride in decorating our home each year for Christmas, both inside as well as outside. Living in Millstone for almost 17 years, we have added to our decorations each season to the delight of many. The challenge each Christmas is to develop something new.

I struck upon an idea of constructing "gift boxes," that is, boxes made of plywood, of various sizes, brightly painted in a variety of colors and tied with colorful ribbons and bows. These nine or 10 gift boxes were placed under one of my spruce trees along the street, illuminated at night by a flood light. Steel eye hooks were fixed to each box, and all the boxes were not only wired to each other but to a tree as well. My rationale for the fastenings was to keep the boxes in place, specifically anchoring them against wind and other elements. Never did I imagine I’d be dealing with human elements!

Somewhere between Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, some Grinch (and I only use that word because your newspaper is a family publication) took a liking to my gift boxes, leaving me with just four. The wire could not be broken by hand, so I assume that my visitor plotted this theft in advance by showing up with some sort of wire cutter.

How sad it is to know that there are people either residing or passing through our town with this kind of mentality, who apparently receive some sort of satisfaction from stealing and/or defacing other people’s property. I feel pity for them.

Happy holidays to all, even to you, Grinch. Hope you didn’t get any splinters from my boxes!

John D’Amaro

Millstone