My mother was a gentle woman, warm and good hearted. But she must have had an ornery streak .
This ornery streak was clearly displayed one Christmas. I was about four, which places this about 1956. At age four I had only recently discovered the wonders of the Montgomery Wards Christmas catalog, Santa was still real, and the days leading to Christmas passed with the slowness of January molasses.
About two weeks before Christmas, my mother brought out the biggest package I had ever seen and put it right in front -- a package that dwarfed everything else under the tree. And right there on the top was the tag: "To Stevie"
It was almost too much to believe. The biggest present under the tree, and it was mine!
Never has a single package been subject to such scrutiny and examination. I stretched out the paper, hoping for a drawing or some other hint of the treasure that lay inside. I started to shake it, but was told not to -- Ah hah! A clue. It could break!
Day after day passed. Not once did the sun set without me sitting in wonder of the enormous package. It seemed Christmas would never come.
But it did -- a crisp, cold, snowy white Christmas. And I dashed to the living room with only one thought on my mind -- the package.
So I waited, and waited, and waited, while all the other Christmas packages were opened. Finally, there was just one remaining. The granddaddy of all Christmas presents. What miracle toy did it hold? Whatever it was, it was as big as me!
So finally it was my turn. I ripped open the paper which for so long I had tried to see through. It's secret was revealed! It was . . . another box. This one was a bit smaller, but it was also wrapped. Somewhat disappointed, but still full of excitement, I unwrapped it to reveal . . . another box.
On and on it went, like a horrible parade of nesting dolls bent on destroying my childhood innocence and excitement. Finally I was down to a box barely the size of my hand. All my dreams had crumbled into this little wrapped box. It was so small that no toy could fit into it, not even a set of tiddly winks.
So I unwrapped this now-tiny package. And it revealed . . . a box. But this box was different. It was hard, and had a hinge. I pulled it open.
Inside was a watch -- a genuine Mickey Mouse watch! It was beyond my dreams. It was what I wanted most, but never thought I would get.
Over the years, I have received many wonderful and thoughtful gifts. But none ever filled me with more joy and wonder than my Mickey Mouse watch. It came in a small watch case, but nearly 50 years later, it is still the BIGGEST present I ever got.
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