The Gift of Myself As A Christmas Present
Posted: Thursday, December 18, 2008
by Laurie Meade
Lauries Legends Co
The Christmas that holds the most important and special memory in my mind is the first one I would have spent away from my family. I went into the Navy right out of graduating from high school in June, back in 1975, and by Christmas I hadn't really been in long enough to request a leave. My mother was devastated.
Well, after joining the Navy, at 18 and never having even been away to a summer camp, I was dealing with homesickness big time. My mom, had put together a Christmas package and given it to my Grandma to send to me. My Grandma and I had a secret. I was actually coming home but we were going to surprise my parents.
I flew home early Christmas morning. My sister Mary, and her husband picked me up from the airport. It seemed that the only ones that weren't in on the secret were my younger siblings and my parents.
Mary and Joe (yes, those are their real names) dropped me off outside the back door. I gave them time to go in the front door and get greeted. Then I rang the back door bell.
My mom answered the door. She was beside herself. She just kept yelling, "Richard, come here, look what I found!" referring to me just standing there grinning.
My other grandma, my dad's mom was also there and she was griping, about it all saying we could have given her a heart attack. (She was probably jealous because she hadn't been in on the secret, too, LOL)
It was mid afternoon and the presents had all been opened but I was in time for dinner. My grandma proceeded to get "my box" and insist on me opening it. But I had a better idea.
Being that I had been stationed in San Diego, I had gone to Tijuana, Mexico and spent $50. I had been able to get everyone, a Christmas present, I had 6 brothers and sisters. We sat there and I watched everyone open the gift I had carefully picked out in Mexico just for them, and my heart swelled.
I learned the true meaning of Christmas that day and the feeling you get when you give instead of receive.
As for my box, I must have opened it afterward, but that part of this day, I don't even remember.
It was the giving that made this Christmas a significant and memorable one, that I will never forget, it stands vivid in my mind, even today some 33 years later. It was on that day at the ripe old age of 18, that I learned what the meaning of Christmas Day and the spirit of giving rather than receiving meant.
Laurie Meade is the owner of several websites, and a regular contributing author here at searchwarp.com. You can find a few of her websites here:
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