Beads!

A gift from Gay, the glass beads sparkle like hard candy Santa left at Christmas, swirled and dotted and bowed in primary colors.

"What are you going to do with them?" she asked, amused by my delight.

"Use them -- on books!" I answered.

I imagine cheerful closures, ribbons held in place by free beads, lozenges and orbs and cones against satin and paper, shimmering like Christmas lights and ornaments -- oh, the beads beg use.

Soon, soon.

Meanwhile, their cheery convocation smiles from the jar in my kitchen window.