An oldie but a goodie (Christmas, 2006)
The gingerbread isn't made yet. But the house is decorated and the snow is falling. Christmas tunes are playing and someone is humming along while she wraps gifts. I am tired today, but not from a month of our medical drama, a month of no routine. Not from standing in line juggling packages at the post office nor writing the deep stack of Christmas cards. Do you know how exhausting it is to keep a secret?
I pulled off a good one last night. After our plans to spend Christmas with my parents in Pennsylvania were necessarily scuttled due to M's continued recuperation, Molly decided a couple of weeks ago to book a flight home from Tokyo for Christmas and the two of us kept it a secret...from M, from our family and just about everyone! Under the guise of helping a friend with a holiday surprise for her children, I slipped out to O'Hare in the late afternoon. Though the weather was fine...a rare, calm window in a wild weather week...Molly's flight was delayed and I ended up being gone for over 3 hours. When she finally arrived from her Atlanta connection, we headed home, quickly stopping on the way to pick up a large poinsettia.
When we got to our neighborhood, I dropped her off at the corner of the street, pulled into the driveway and came into the house through the garage, into the kitchen in the back of our house. M jumped right up...What took so long? Where had I gone with Wendy? As I took my jacket off, spinning a tale of my imaginary afternoon exploits, the doorbell rang. He headed down the front hallway to answer it, quickly peeking out the small, high windows of the front door for a preview. Molly, well prompted, held the poinsettia high to obscure any view of her face and as he grabbed the doorknob, he whispered over his shoulder, "It's some goof with a poinsettia". (This line, now destined to become one of those family classics.) When he opened the door, she dropped the plant down and exclaimed, "Merry Christmas, Dad!!" If the pneumonia didn't kill him, this almost did.
Needless to say, we're enjoying a quiet but happy holiday week. Wishing the same for you and hoping that all of your Christmas wishes come true!
What a beautiful, heartwarming Christmas story!
Have a wonderful Christmas together!!
Posted by: Miriam | December 24, 2009 at 03:49 AM
oh I am so happy for all three of you!
what a wonderful surprise after the month you two have had....
enjoy your holiday
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | December 24, 2009 at 04:07 AM
How perfect, this has to be one of the nicest Christmas stories I've read yet. Have a good one.
Posted by: Janet | December 24, 2009 at 04:09 AM
How wonderful!!!
Posted by: NerdGirl | December 24, 2009 at 05:21 AM
I've got goosebumps just reading this! How wonderful that you and Molly pulled this over. You will have the merriest Christmas just being together!
Posted by: Carole | December 24, 2009 at 07:27 AM
that is so sweet. merry christmas to you all.
Posted by: Lazy Gal Tonya R | December 24, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Marvelous!!! I hope you, M, and the "goof with the poinsettia" have a wonderful, merry Christmas together. Best wishes to you all.
Posted by: Ruth | December 24, 2009 at 07:58 AM
YAY - & Yes Virginia those are tears of joy!
(I am getting far too many miles out of that "Yes Virginia" line!)
Are you still eating muffins? (I may never finish the cookies that I baked for my husband's holiday party that he missed because of the snow.)
Posted by: Amy | December 24, 2009 at 08:04 AM
I love this story. It made my morning! Merry Christmas!!
Posted by: Linda | December 24, 2009 at 08:09 AM
What a wonderful story. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Posted by: Laurie in Iowa | December 24, 2009 at 08:15 AM
what a gorgeous thing!!!
Merry Christmas to all...
Posted by: monica | December 24, 2009 at 08:31 AM
What a delightful read! Thank you for sharing your Christmas cheer. What fun!
Posted by: Heather | December 24, 2009 at 08:40 AM
A wonderful story! Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Kay | December 24, 2009 at 11:26 AM
What happiness! Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Mary | December 24, 2009 at 11:42 AM
What a sweet surprise! Merry Christmas.
Posted by: Chrissie | December 24, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Just wonderful! I have a daughter named Molly, too, and your story brought tears to my eyes! Thanks for sharing that!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Joan
Posted by: wishes, true and kind | December 24, 2009 at 12:22 PM
what a wonderful story! have a wonderful visit!
Posted by: sarah | December 24, 2009 at 02:26 PM
That's SO SO awesome, Jan!! How fantastic! Hello to Molly and Merry Christmas to the entire Bemused clan!!
Posted by: Kathy | December 24, 2009 at 02:37 PM
Wow! What a wonderful Christmas story! It brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart! I hope that you all have a truly wonderful Christmas and best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year! Jay
Posted by: Jay | December 24, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Best story ever. I am in awe that you could pull that off! Have a wonderful holiday. xo
Posted by: Emily | December 24, 2009 at 04:08 PM
i love that you pulled it off as a total surprise!! merry christmas!
Posted by: carolyn | December 24, 2009 at 07:59 PM
What a great story! We did the pneumonia drill last winter....scary how long it takes to recover.
Posted by: Sassenach | December 24, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Oh, this is WONDERFUL. Merry Christmas to you and your whole family. !!!
Posted by: KathieB | December 25, 2009 at 12:41 AM
I'm all weepy! (Damn hormones!!!) I wish you guys the best possible Christmas and a peaceful, healthy new year! YAY!
Posted by: Cara | December 25, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Sounds like you both received the perfect Xmas gift.
Posted by: Brenda | December 25, 2009 at 05:37 PM
What a great Christmas surprise! Love the "goof with the pointsettia" line.
Posted by: inglesidebelle | December 26, 2009 at 01:53 AM
What a delight to hear! Have a great week, and all the best for the New Year, especially health and happiness!
Posted by: Wendy | December 26, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Sooooo wonderful - you and Molly are great.
Posted by: Mimi | December 26, 2009 at 08:18 AM
Wonderful, Jan! Such a sweet, heartwarming Christmas story. Merry Christmas (a day late) and Happy, healthy New Year!
Posted by: annie | December 26, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Clever! and Hilarious... that will surely be a classic family line from now on! Enjoy your time together !
Posted by: Schnoobie | December 26, 2009 at 12:32 PM
What a lovely surprise! I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas!
Posted by: mathea | December 26, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Oh Jan! I swear, I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face! What a wonderful surprise -- you two are very clever. I'm sure that was great fun - congratulations for being able to pull it off!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | December 26, 2009 at 01:38 PM
How brilliant - made me tear up! Merry Christmas to all of you! Happy quilting!
Posted by: Loretta | December 26, 2009 at 05:59 PM
That sounds like the best Christmas gift ever! I can't believe you pulled it off. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Posted by: Anita | December 26, 2009 at 11:58 PM
This warms the cockles of my heart! I must say, you had the smallest of details thought out in advance. M must be tough to surprise. What a wonderful gift for all of you!
Posted by: Diane | December 27, 2009 at 11:38 AM
What a great secret and surprise. It brought tears to my eyes! Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
Posted by: Cindra | December 27, 2009 at 02:29 PM
LOVE IT! What a great surprise! I hope you are having a wonderful time!!
Posted by: amy | December 27, 2009 at 04:05 PM
What a great surprise!!!
Posted by: Lynn | December 27, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Happy happy story! I needed that!
Posted by: pam | December 28, 2009 at 11:25 AM
How fantastic!
Posted by: Sharon | December 28, 2009 at 06:27 PM
You brought tears to my eyes, you Christmas goof!
Posted by: Kathie | December 28, 2009 at 10:25 PM
even though Christmas has been gone for a week, this still brought tears to my eyes. what a wonderful gift for all of you!
Posted by: Maryjo | January 01, 2010 at 02:25 PM
Can the rest of us use the "goof with a poinsettia" line too?
Hilarious.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Lisa in Toronto | January 01, 2010 at 11:09 PM