Wouldn’t it be great if one day I could get an image from the Internet, and have a machine cut out that image for me?

That day is here. At least, it should be here today when my new Silhouette Cameo machine is due to arrive.

As usual, just before I get a new toy, I am filled with excitement. I have just printed out the 46-page manual for the machine. I expect it to be my bedtime reading for at least a week or two.

Why, when I have enjoyed cutting out pictures for my popup cards, would I want a machine to cut them out for me?

I could understand it, if I were in the “business” of mass production of popup cards.

Wait a minute – that’s precisely it. I want to be able to put together popup cards on a minute’s notice. I usually have the background pictures printed out and, if I can instruct a machine to cut out popup images in advance, I could assemble an entire popup card in about one minute!

Even more exciting is the amazing idea that my popup pictures can be cleanly cut out with no more effort than pushing a button. I suppose that is something I just have to see to believe.

How will you, the reader, know if the new machine meets my expectations? I suppose that further essays touting the amazing machine would be proof.

I enjoy the excitement of a toy before it arrives and, if that excitement remains once the toy is used, I am twice thankful.

Will I continue to cut out popup pictures by hand? I hope not. Just as I thoroughly enjoyed my 30-year career, and am now ecstatic about my retirement, I can look back on having enjoyed my scissor-cutting immensely, once I fall in love with my cutting machine’s cut outs. I hope she doesn’t disappoint me.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com