Last-Minute Birthday Gift Wrapping Is an El Paso Struggle

I have a confession to make to pretty much every friend and family member who has ever invited me to a birthday party.

Did I know about your party weeks in advance? Yes.

Did I have plenty of opportunities to go buy you- or, more likely, your child- a birthday present? Absolutely.

Did I still wait until approximately 20 minutes before the party to frantically stop somewhere and buy that gift?

Also yes.

And I refuse to believe I’m the only person in El Paso doing this.

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The Last-Minute Birthday Gift Run Is Basically a Tradition

There is something about getting invited to a kid’s birthday party that convinces me I have ALL the time in the world. The invitation goes on the fridge. The date is in my calendar. I know exactly when this party is happening.

Then suddenly it’s party day, I’m supposed to be there soon, and I’m pulling into a shopping center because I have purchased absolutely nothing.

At this point, I have my system down. Five Below? Perfect! Ross? Absolutely! Burlington? Get me in there! They’re always in the same shopping center!

And shout out to all of these stores because not only can I find a birthday gift, I can usually grab the gift bag AND tissue paper during the same emergency shopping trip.

Which brings us to phase two of this operation: the parking lot.

Because there’s no going home now. We don’t have that kind of time!

That passenger seat is about to become a gift-wrapping station!

Gift goes in the bag. Tissue paper gets fluffed up enough to make it look like I put some thought into this. Card gets signed using the center console as a desk.

Joanna Barba

Then I casually walk into the birthday party carrying a perfectly respectable gift bag as if the entire thing wasn’t thrown together in a parking lot seven minutes ago.

Nobody needs to know.

Well... until now.

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Other El Pasoans HAVE to Be Doing This Too

I started thinking about this after seeing videos online of other people doing the exact same thing, and I felt incredibly seen.

Because I know I can’t be alone.

Somewhere in El Paso this weekend, there has to be another person sitting in a Five Below, Ross or Burlington parking lot with a birthday gift in their lap, tissue paper flying around the car and a party they're supposed to be at very, very soon.

And listen, I may procrastinate on buying the gift, but there is one thing I will not do: show up empty-handed!

If you invited me to your birthday party, I’m bringing you something.

Was it purchased three weeks ago and thoughtfully wrapped at my kitchen table? Absolutely not.

Was it purchased 20 minutes ago and assembled in my passenger seat? There’s a very good chance.

But you’re getting that gift! Also, I'm going to be late.