“But as I started to unwrap and unwrap, I started to think, ‘Maybe, just maybe ... ’ ”
Sure enough, when Sprout made it through the layers of tissue, there it was — the iTouch! It was her ticket to texting, listening to music and playing games, and it’s rarely been out of her hands since then. (Well, except for the time it got thrown in with the laundry, but that’s a story for another day.)
Sometimes the best presents come to us by total surprise, in packages we could never have guessed.
I know that’s true for me, though it took more than Sprout’s 12 years for me to learn that lesson.
By this time last year, I had pretty much given up on the gift I’d wanted more than anything for the longest time: a family.
I have been blessed a million times over in my life — with good health, good friends, an amazing career, even great love.
But having a man who thinks I hung the moon, shares my values, makes me laugh and, just as importantly, wants to make a life with me; a guy who wants to dream big and find joy in what can be the drudgery of everyday life? That big mac daddy gift of gifts has been elusive.
And so 2010 was the year I gave in. I was down to the last box, so to speak, and it didn’t look like it could possibly hold the gift I wanted.
I accepted my fate, though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to some pretty low moments longing for the connection that a shared life brings.
It was on such a sad day that I agreed to go to a summer festival with two of my best friends, Craig and Michael, and their 11-year-old son Cooper, who is my godson.
As I again played fourth wheel to their sweet family, Craig spotted a fellow dad from their son’s elementary school. “Why don’t you and your daughter come sit down with us and have lunch?” he offered. Michael, meanwhile, slugged my arm, announcing, “Single! Single! Single! Incoming!” I could have died from embarrassment!
It was a brief meeting with the man who has come to be known amongst my people as “Mr. SummerFest.”
I learned he was a single dad dedicated to raising his 11-year-old daughter since his ex-wife passed away a few years ago. It was enough for me to go, “hmmmm,” and for Michael to reach out through the school’s parent contact sheet to see if Mr. SummerFest might be interested. I can see now that Christmas came for me in July. Mr. SummerFest is that man. “Fully-assembled,” one of my friends declared after meeting him, a grown-up who’s been knocked down by life, gotten back up and not wasted the opportunities to grow. The fact that we share values, like to play and that he’s pretty darn good-looking are just the bows on top of that gift I didn’t see coming.
As the holidays approached, we got late word that a variety of our people would be in town. “Let’s make a party,” I said at the last minute. Somehow, Mr. SummerFest is delighted by one of my biggest joys — my people meeting his people. In 12 hours I whipped together a buffet.
There we all were, gathered in my living room — Mr. SummerFest; his daughter “Sprout”; his late ex-wife’s parents; and the family of my mother’s best childhood friend who just happened to be passing through town on Christmas Eve. The makings for an episode of “Modern Family,” if there ever was one.
As I looked around the living room at this eclectic bunch, I had to smile. There it was — the present and the packaging I could’ve never imagined — a family.
Maybe you’ve decided to take inventory of the gifts you received this year. Maybe you’re also listing the gifts you’re hoping will show up in the new year. Well, get ready.
If you’re willing to give up preconceived notions of who might deliver the gift and how it will be packaged, Christmas just might be on its way.
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Daryn Kagan is the creator and host of DarynKagan.com, an online community that features a daily Web cast of inspirational stories. The former CNN anchor and news reporter is the author of “What’s Possible! 50 True Stories of People Who Dared To Dream They Could Make a Difference.”
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