Saturday, December 14, 2013

The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Our Best Christmas Ever

                                                         
I have no idea who gave my family our best Christmas ever.  I tried to find out so I could not only thank them but let them know what they did for my family.  They worked so hard to keep it a secret and after awhile I realized they didn't want me to know so I gave up trying to figure it out.  Besides, I had given it my best shot and came up with nothing! No clue!
  Pear
     It was back in the early 1990's. I was divorced, working at the best job in the world (library) but for a tiny bit above minimum wage and I had 4 children.  I didn't have a lot of money to do fun things for my children during the holiday season. My Mother had died the year before right at Christmas and I was dreading the season coming around that year.  A couple of other difficult things were going on.  It was not going to be a Norman Rockwell Christmas. 
     Whoever it was knew my schedule well.  Two weeknights a week I worked until 9 p.m. I worked every other Saturday and the other week days until 6 p.m.  I lived in a bit of a scary neighborhood and I think they realized anything they left on my porch would disappear if left alone for long.  They left us 12 gifts, at random times, but always just shortly after I had picked my children up and arrived home at night.  Being December it was always in the dark.
     The first gift came early in December.  It was a thin tree branch, maybe about 5 or 6 feet tall, with a pear attached to it and a little note ... "On the first day of Christmas my true friend gave to me a pear tied to a tree."  My children, ages 8 though 14, and I thought it was fun that someone rang our doorbell and left this on our porch.  I assumed it was meant for one of my daughters and from one of their friends. We did not expect another gift.
     A week later, the doorbell rang again. No one there but a gift was left on our porch.  I am sorry to say I don't remember what it was, but it went along with the song and had a little note... I am pretty sure it was a box of Chocolate "Turtle" candies and a bar of Dove soap.  It definitely brightened our day.
    We thought there might possibly be a 3rd gift so the kids tried to listen for a car to stop at our home but we never heard or saw a thing.  At a random time the doorbell would ring and they would be out of sight before we opened the door. 
    We asked everyone we could think of if they were leaving the gifts. No one admitted to it but many friends of mine and my children would ask daily "did you get another gift?"  It was fun & holiday joy for a multitude of people, especially my co-workers!  Never knowing when a gift might come or what it would be created suspense, anticipation, and happiness that made that December fun when we were sorely missing my Mom and their Grandma. 

    Of the other gifts I can only remember four.  Instead of 3 French hens we found 3 frozen Cornish hens and other food items to make a meal.  Our five golden rings was a can of pineapple rings.  Instead of 10 Lords a Leaping we received socks. Pretty socks - argyles, stripes, bright colors - not just plain old white socks.  A pair for each of us totaling 10 socks.  They were pinned to something, I can't remember what, but pinned as if hanging on a clothes line.  The last gift was a party in a box ... items to "drum up a party"....cans of Sprite, cookies, snacks.  It was the best Christmas ever.
     I so wish I had the list of exactly what we received.   I kept all of the notes that came with each gift but somehow I lost them over the years.  I recently googled "gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas" and found this wonderful article: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/christmascrafts/ss/12-Days-Of-Christmas.htm.  It has great examples of things you can give for the 12 days.  If you can ever afford it and know someone who needs some holiday cheer I promise this can't be beat.  It doesn't have to be expensive gifts, just requires some imagination.  We appreciated the can of pineapple as much as any of them.  20 years later when I see a pineapple ring I remember that feeling of bliss finding our "5 golden rings."  20 years of thinking someone loved my family so much that they created gifts, came by my home and left them 12 times during what most likely was an already busy month for them.  Somebody cared about us. 
    Go out and hug somebody, and give someone a Christmas surprise if you can.
                                      Betsy

13 comments:

  1. Oh my Gosh Betsy what a wonderful memory and what a great idea. I love that someone was caring enough to brighten your families Christmas at such a tough time in your life.

    We seem to be attracted to the same breed of dogs. I too have a Schnauzer and a Beagle. It was our Beagle that started me blogging four years ago. They are such funny dogs.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Hi! thought I had 5 readers but here you are! You must be #6!!! Oh, Schnauzers and Beagles, just the best, aren't they? I read some of your blog, and scrolled through all of it and discovered we are both LDS, I think you live in WA where my son now lives (except he is in Seattle), and I had to read every post about your injury just to see what in the world caused that terrible place on your leg! I enjoyed your blog, pictures of your injury and all!

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    2. A 2nd thought .... I don't know if you read my Dec 1st post about some of my favorite books but once I realized you were LDS I thought here is someone who would be familiar with The Modern Magi and A Stranger for Christmas. Don't you just love those two little books?! I assume you are familiar with them since they are by an LDS author. None of my other readers have found them at their libraries I don't think. No one has mentioned reading them. Anyway, have a wonderful day and thank you for leaving a comment! :)

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  2. Yes, I remember this. Would love to do this for a family sometime!

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    1. I hope the people who did this for us knows what a wonderful thing it was. I really get goosebumps even now thinking someone cared about us that much to do something so fun.

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  3. Betsy, what an inspirational story. It is clear that this was so special to you and your family, to have a secret angel. I love the idea.

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    1. It was just really really special. Probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for us. There are good people in the world.

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  4. There is a cranky old hermit who lives down the road and around the bend. Most people fear him. He has no family and is a bah-humbug type of person who keeps to himself. This would be great to do for him to show him there are good people in the world. But it is likely he would shoot me if I got caught in the process.

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    1. LOL! Well, I sure don't want you to get shot and in this day and age you never know! Hope you are feeling much better. Take care

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  5. Stopped by from Olga's to read about your 12 Days of Christmas - what a wonderful gift you received and such a great memory. Probably makes you put a lot of other things in perspective, too. This would be so wonderful to do - maybe next year! I'll have to set up a reminder. thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas~!

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    1. Hi Grandma Kc, I am so glad you stopped by. I am thrilled that you are considering this as a project for next year. I can not tell you how much this meant to my family and I was hoping someone might read this and know of a family they could bless in the same way. Merry Christmas!

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  6. I came to visit from Olga's blog - what a great story. It is truly in the spirit of the season. Thanks! Happy Holidays.

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    1. Hi Barb! Thank you for stopping by. Happy Holidays to you as well!

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