Sometimes best gifts can’t be wrapped

Noting the frost crystals covering the lawn, I hastily traversed the area between our front door and the paper box.

I knew the Thanksgiving edition of The Spokesman-Review would be huge, but I didn’t expect it to challenge the dimensions of the box. I futilely tugged, turned, and pulled at the paper, while “blessing” its’ container. It had never before occurred to me that having previous work experience in a girdle factory could enhance one’s career as a newspaper carrier.

Four cups of coffee and a couple of hours later I discarded the last shards of the ad-paper and said: “Honey, I can’t believe the variety of ‘stuff’ merchants have listed at screaming prices for Black Friday!”

Her reply was: “We don’t need any more stuff, dear.”

A weeklong survey of the nooks and crannies found within the confines of our home has convinced me that she’s absolutely right. We rented a medium-sized U-Haul van to bring most everything we owned to this place in the Valley 40 years ago. I don’t think we could move out of here with less than a flotilla of moving vans, augmented by a workforce containing half the population of one of our local colleges, today.

I was in the middle of developing more lyrics to my latest “Scrooge Song” when my daughter, accompanied by our oldest granddaughter, dropped by. Naturally, I had to share the results of my inventory with them. It took awhile for anyone to get a word in edgewise, but when I finally got around to taking a breath, the leader of the pack smilingly blew me off with, “Forget that! We’re not filled up yet. You need to get out there and shop, shop, shop, Buster!”

The granddaughter said nothing.

We eventually moved our conclave from the kitchen to the living room. As I sat down in my La-Z-Boy, Susie climbed onto my lap. Looking me in the eye she said: “So Grandpa, you really don’t want anything for Christmas?”

I responded; “Oh, Honey, I have a long list of things I want for Christmas”

She asked: “Like what?”

I said: “Well to start off with, I’d like to have an evening sitting here in our front room, alone, with your grandma. In my dream, the room would be lit by the flames emanating from the fireplace. We’d open, and consume, a cool bottle of champagne while celebrating the many accomplishments and special moments we’ve shared throughout our 48 years together.”

I continued with: “And then, I want some time for Grandma and I to open, and enjoy, the many Christmas cards we’ve received. Those cards help us to reconnect with, and remember the people who have ‘stepped out of the crowd’ to say; ‘Hi!’ They’ve helped us become the people we are today.”

Obviously perplexed Susie asked: “Is that all you want for Christmas?

Once again I responded: “Oh no. I want much more.”

She asked: “What is it?”

I said, “I want to see, touch and talk with your mommy, daddy, aunts, uncles, and all my grandchildren sometime during this holiday season. I want to look each of you in the eye and to gather each of you in my arms. I want to tell each of you that you’re loved!

“And finally, Honey, I do have something that I need to do on Christmas Day.”

She said, “Of course you do, Grandpa. You need to open your presents!”

I responded: “Yes Susie, I will open some presents, but beyond that and beyond the fine meal we’ll enjoy together, I need to go to church. I need to say ‘thank you’ to my friend, who resides there!”

Susie must have been digesting the heart of my message as she nestled deeper into my shoulder, because a bit later this little voice said; “Grandpie, I love you!”

I gently reached up, pressed her ear a little closer to my heart, and said: “Thank you, Honey!”

And with that, I’ll say: “Merry Christmas” to you.