I now know what it is like to be my friend

Readers.

I am so completely overwhelmed, touched and happy I feel like I could burst.

I got a package in the mail today.

A GIFT. Not a computer case for my husband, papers involving purchase of our land or our drug shipment from Columbia.

NO.

A REAL, HONEST-TO-GOODNESS-CARE-PACKAGE!To appreciate just how much that means to me, you would have to understand just how I feel about gifts and their significance.

They. mean.everything.to.me.

It doesn’t matter the amount of money spent. One of my most prized gifts was a set of dog tags made on Valentines day. There was also a typewriter piece, but I won’t get into that. Expensive is awesome. My husband designed a gold necklace with gems set just how I like for each of our three boys it is so precious to me. It doesn’t have to cost money, though… It can be as simple as good friends bringing a Diet Coke to show their love, a plaque with my sons name done in caligraphy by a friend, a small bag of BBQ chips, a pair of sparkley sandals that matched a pair the giver bought because of you. They are all dear and loved.

Packages received in the mail can either make you sing with joy (My “I’m blogging this” T-Shirt sent from France) or break your heart (I don’t need to say anymore about this). When I lose or break or misplace gifts, I am devastated.

I love gifts because for me, it is all about the CARE and the LOVE that goes into getting off your ass to pick out some little something that reminds you of that person. I am always intrigued to see what people think of to buy me. My friend Michelle is very good at gift giving because she loves to do the unusual, just like me. She bought me a rockin purse. I had no idea I needed or wanted a purse, but I LOVED that thing. It was perfect, right down to the pink and chocolate polka dot liner. She also bought me bras for my new set of “Girls” for last year’s birthday and was a co-conspirator in filling Karen’s fridge with beverages.

We get along.

I have been known to avalanche people with gifts. Not all the time, and I will go through phases, but it is a way that I show love, affection, worry, concern, guilt, and sorrow.

I try to put thought into whatever gift I give to people, whether it be an imported soda, a quirky lunchbox or a tub of Muhumurra and pita bread along with a bag of trout I caught. In my younger years I was out of control. I was so grateful to have any friends at all that I used to leave them gifts in their lockers, on cars, on their porch and look for any gift-giving occasion under the sun. “Happy Arbor Day!!!” I think I bought my friends a mall once.

This little quality of mine also has it’s down sides. I have been accused of trying to buy love, butter people up, show other’s weakness and failures with gifts. When you tie your affection and feelings so closely into physical tokens, that can hurt like a mother, let me tell you.

It is rare that I meet anyone who is quite like me in this area.

Ok…I never actually have.

UNTIL NOW.

Actually? Today, I have been outdone.

It must be something with the name, Loralee.

Loralee Christiansen in California (Thing Two as she is affectionately known here) and I have had so many good conversations. She has been so kind and thoughtful, wise and understanding of me and my weird little ways.

We have so many similarities it is bizarre. I just love her.

She knows that I have really been struggling right now. Many do, and I cannot express the KINDNESS, the care, the concern and just plain, “I have restored faith in humanity” that I have gotten from people. The calls, the letters, emails have been so amazing to me.

Then, I get THIS in the mail. Books, a fabulous card, a great letter (We like so many of the same tunes, Thing Two), Bath products, makeup, loads of CD’S, perfume…it just kept going and going.

I shook and cried and GRINNED, at every object and word. I was like a little kid at Christmas!

Her letter is also a carbon copy of ME! See, LLC, no one understands the beauty of an 8-page letter like ME! When a friend was deployed to duty, I think I must have worn the post office out with packages, cards, letters, brownies, DVD’s…you get the picture. He finally told me to stop, for the love of god. (It can be a bit overwhelming to bask in my affection, I’m afraid.)

My favorite item and line from the letter?
“I have enclosed two tubes of Crest Whitening Expressions toothpaste. First off, Two is just completely strange enough to send you toothpaste. Has anyone else ever sent you toothpaste? HMMMMM? I thought not!”

Could you die?

For her to send me such and amazing gift is just beyond me. BEYOND.

For once in my life, I am freaking speechless as to how I feel (DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS TO DO, THING TWO??!)

I bless the day that she googled her name at 4 am and found me.
More than that, I am glad there is such a kind human on the earth.
I am glad that there is someone else out there that understands such a quirky, unusual part of me.

You rock, Thing Two