Another project I did for that guy I’m seeing. I started this before he gave me the print copy of this book, because I made that other one, so if I couldn’t buy it, why not make one. And the night he gave me the copy he bought me, he was like “I know you just started binding one, but if you still want to finish it, I was wondering if maybe I could keep it…? Because I really liked the book, but I also think it would be really cool to have a copy of your favorite book, made by you. But obviously you don’t have to give it to me if you want to keep it!” Keep in mind that this was after I’d already made the first book for him. *And* he had already told me that while he’s not the most sentimental person, and he kind of hates having a bunch of *stuff*, he also said that if I make him something, he’ll keep it forever. He said that he has a terrible habit of losing things when he moves homes (which is why he had me hold on to the other book I made for him, until he’d moved into his new house), but he’ll make the genuine effort to keep the things I’ve made for him, because no one has made him gifts like this before. The crazy part is that by the time he’s sick of me, a handmade gift will just be another Tuesday afternoon for him, because why just spend money on a premade gift, when I could spend money, time, creativity, and effort to show just how much I’m willing -no, *genuinely happy*- to do, to show that person how much they matter to me…? I’m literally going to be baking him gluten-free bread the next time I see him. Oh, you have dietary restrictions? Not only will I accommodate them, I’ll go out of my way to make sure I accommodate in the most delicious way possible. Just let me love you, bro.
