Big Hit

This May Russ and I will have been married for 32 years. That means that my poor father -in-law, Marty, has been searching for gifts for us for that many years. He is a man who loves to find the right gifts, wrap them with great precision and send them for early delivery. He asks for advice secretly, but really hates if the answer is a gift card.

For me, the best gift in the last ten years has been a gift certificate to Chapel Hill Needlepoint. I know it pains him to give that to me, but he does. Rather than have Nancy at Chapel Hill Needlepoint just give it to me or even have Russ pick it up, Nancy sends it to Marty and he wraps it in a beautiful box with many bows.

True to form this year’s presents arrived last week in a giant box. I took the wrapped gifts and put them around the tree since they are the only wrapped gifts we have so far. I did not shake any of the boxes or even look too closely at the tags.

Then to my surprise and new small box arrived today. Russ said he had gotten a text from his father who has been tracking this gift. “Open it right away,” were the instructions. What could it be, a tiny live mouse?

Using the requisite pocket knife as the only way to pry the tape from the paper Russ revealed a white box with an “S” on it. What is this logo he asked me. “Swarovski,” I exclaimed.

The white outer box enveloped a beautiful heavy green box. Russ gently pried the thick lid off to uncover a green foam covering with a small finger hole on one side. Tendlerly lifting the green foam Russ exposed a crystal star to first light that sat nestled in a green foam nest.

He handed me the box so I could lift the little star up by the ivory ribbon it hung from. It is without a doubt the most beautiful ornament, almost too special for my chock-a-block tree.

After 32 years Marty has come up with his own perfect gift, one that he needed no advice on. So a star will lead us on Christmas Day. Thanks Marty. You done good.