When I arrived in residence my first year of university, my sole music source was a desk-top clock radio. I was surprised to find it seemed everyone else had powerful sound-systems; tuners, amps, turn-tables and large speakers. I decided I wanted one too. I approached Mom with my request and she said she could make it a Christmas present if I wanted, but it would be my only gift. I readily agreed.
A few days before Christmas a large cube-shaped present appeared beneath the tree, placed there by my younger brother. He was fifteen and he had an air of excited mystery about him. I was curious about his gift which was light-weight and didn’t make a sound when I shook it.
On Christmas morning I learned my brother’s gift was not the thing in the box but the thing forming the box; six record albums taped together! He knew I would be receiving a sound system and that I had very few albums to play on it.
What made this gift so special was not only the thought he put into it, or his creative way of presenting it, or even his perfect match of my taste in music. I knew that it had taken a lot of time and effort to create this gift. Not having a lot of money to spend and wanting to stretch his dollars, he had watched the newspaper ads for the weekly Saturday morning Door-Crasher Specials at Sam the Record Man. He had gotten up early to get across town to be at the door when Sam’s opened at 8:30 in the morning, on a Saturday morning….six times!
What’s your most memorable Christmas gift?
photo credit: Jonas N
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It was not so much a gift but the time spent with someone...in this case a complete stranger. It was midnight Mass in Victoria BC and I had selected a side pew for service. A woman had sat down beside me and we began small talk in a hushed tone. I remember she was recentlly divorced and by herself. We chatted, then Mass began. After service, we wished each a Merry Christmas and a farewell.
On Christmas day I proceeded to Queen Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children because that was where I had spent many of my days off as a Volunteer helper. Within an hour my friend from Mass was there with a choral group she had recently joined. I enjoyed their singing and when that had ended, we chatted some more. Neither of us had any plans for the day, so we shared Christmas dinner at a nice restaurant. It was a great day afterall and for a few hours, we shared the joy of Christmas.
I never saw her again after that but I like to think perhaps some Christmas miracle brought us together. I think of her at every Christmas and the time we shared.
@JimK This sounds like something from a movie Jim! I guess we never know how our gifts or presence impacts people and for how long it does. Hmmmm.... makes me wonder about this Christmas; my gifts, my presence. Will they be memorable for anyone? I wonder if my brother ever thought that thirty-three years later I'd still remember his gift. And the lady with the same generous soul on Christmas; did she imagine she would be remembered ?