favorite gift: Re: How was everybodies Christmas???______________...

[Guest guest]

_no_reply _ (mailto:no_reply ) writes: <<

What was your favorite gift you received??, or have ever received???>>

I just had to answer this post. I'm so glad you asked this. I think of the

(few) people I've shared this with, nobody could appreciate the response I'm

about to give...but I'm willing to bet my life that at least ONE person here

will " get it " .

Christmas 1990. My first husband was put out on disability in need of a

kidney transplant. SSDI was withholding payments for the first 6 months so we

only had my income, which was peanuts. Flat out, we were BROKE...bottom of the

barrel, like any young couple starting out - we'd gotten ourselves very deep

in debt then abruptly got reduced to 1 income. I was working full-time plus

going to college at night. Our utilities got cut off, we were 2 months behind

in rent, we/I often had to choose between putting food on the table or his

diabetes and renal meds/supplies. You get the idea, yes?

His Mother came out from California to visit NJ family in mid-December. She

was staying for a month at her parents' (Grandma & Pop's) house and hadn't

done any Christmas shopping prior to flying out. When she arrived she took my

husband out every day to get him out of the house.

That Christmas eve he and I sat on our sofa in front of the tree. I'd only

managed to afford a few small ticket items. He opened his presents with mixed

emotion; happy coz he was like a child at Christmas, yet sad that we were in a

bind. After he opened his 4 or 5 gifts he kissed my cheek and said he was

sorry Christmas was so bad. I admit to being a little disappointed (young and

dumb, not yet understanding chronic pain and all that goes with it).

I gathered up the ribbons and paper for trash. He asked where I was going

because we " weren't done yet " . I cried a little and said, " yes we are. I

couldn't get you anything more, I'm sorry " . He told me to come back because I'd

missed a box.

Stuffed up inside the tree, like an ornament, was this tiny, perfectly

wrapped little box. He told me to open it. Inside was a heart-shaped birthstone

pendant and set of earrings. Nothing elaborate, nothing expensive, but I

(shamefully) admit I smiled because I got a present too. It wasn't until the

next

day I realized what the " real " gift was.

We went to visit Grandma and Pop, and Mom. Gram noticed my new jewelry and

commented on it being pretty. I said, " Thank you, gave them to me for

Christmas " . His Mom, puzzled, looked at him and asked when or how he bought them

because she knew he had no money and he never went shopping alone.

He asked, " Well, Mom, didn't you think it was funny how every time we went

out I dragged you into Sears to buy something? And didn't you notice that your

receipts kept disappearing " ? (( It so happened that Sears was running some

kind of special where if you spent $500 or more, you could turn in your

receipts and get a free heart-shaped pendant with matching post earrings in the

gem

stone of your choice ))

She laughed and said she didn't think it strange until the day before. He

said, " Well, I just wanted to thank you for shopping at Sears because that's how

I was able to give my wife some Christmas " .

Best regards,

Patty A

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