Best Christmas present ever



Before Christmas my friend Terry and I were talking.  I said I tried never to pay freight.  He said he always paid express just to avoid any worry.  Of course I was shocked at the excess. This Thompson is nothing if not parsimonious.  He talked about finding wrapping paper online he'd particularly liked, but hadn’t notated the site, while I was extremely surprised he'd been looking at wrapping paper at all.  This was based on his disinterest last Christmas after a bad breakup; he'd been so uninterested in the whole season.  I hadn’t realized the extent of his unhappiness; newly acquainted, his rectitude had colored my perception.   

This year, he'd reconciled with his girl and her little boy, and was looking for the perfect wrapping paper, but more importantly, he was buying gifts for his “favorite people.”  Wow, whole new side.  I loved it.  He gave great thought to the gifts for the little boy.  We didn’t discuss gifts for his woman, but I figured she got more thought than the kid!  Only right.   

A few days before Christmas in he came, bearing a slick black box (non-traditional, that boy) with a smaller bright yellow package taped to the top.  For me; it touched me no end.  He bought me a present. I can only assume it came express.  I got the lecture, “don’t open until Christmas Day…”  He figured I wouldn’t wait, but I did, savoring this gift, the anticipation of whatever the package contained, awakened a long ago child’s wonder of the season, filtered through the lens of a grown-up, make that a stoic grown-up, recognizing a deliberate and intentional affection.  Just for me. Totally unexpected gift from someone I (unexpectedly) love.  Delivered with a delighted smile, he handed over his gift; and I overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness and his excitement.

On Christmas morning, my small family of all-adult children, slept late, ate breakfast, then leisurely opened the Christmas stockings, (Tyler, shocked at the non-appearance of maple sugar candy.  However, I’d made a wickedly delicious chocolate shortbread that almost rectified this breach of tradition.) 

Then I opened my gifts. Gifts from the kids.  Two jars of Southwest chilis and cool spice stuff from my brother/sister from Tucson.  I got a lot of presents this year: I must have been good.  Of course I was good.  I saved for last the one I’d wondered, pondered, anticipated.  Terry said, “Oh, you what it is.”  But I didn’t.  It could have been anything and I’d have been thrilled.  It wasn’t just anything.  It is a Bron Qualite Professionnelle Mandoline.  Gees, how cool is that?  A stainless steel machine to slice vegetables into amazingly dimensional shapes.  So far it's been:  Sweet potatoes, red onions, potato matchsticks (made into according to my non-pandering daughter, the "best-ever hash browns she's ever eaten.)  Thank you Terry.  Love you.

This is the coolest gift I’ve received since my magic 8-ball in seventh grade. 

Terry swung by my house day after Christmas for a lumber run. He met my kids for the first time.  As we’re riding along, he asked me if they (Tyler and Ryan) thought he, (Terry) was my boyfriend.  I said, “Nah, they know better.  You’re kinda old for my taste.”


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