This post isn't about writing, but it is about something that brought tears to my eyes. For the last while, our budget has been super tight. My husband and I own a plumbing business and business has been super slow. Almost dead in the water. Long story short. We don't have anything extra to spend on trivial things.
Last week I went shopping with my sisters (not intending to buy anything, but to just hang out). I found this beautiful red jacket that I fell in love with. There was only one and it was a size medium. (My new skinny size since I've worked so hard to lose weight.) And it looked so cute on! I really wanted it, but knew I couldn't buy it. It was expensive and way out of my league. But I ogled it, coveted it, and yearned for it. I left without it.
All week I've thought about that stupid jacket. I even told my husband how cute it was and how fun it was to fit into a "skinny" jacket. I swear I haven't done that since college. He told me I should have bought it. I looked at him like he was crazy, and shook my head. All week I tried to justify why I should go back and get it as a reward for my hard work, but always succumbed to reason in the end.
When a lunch was set up with my old high school buddies, I thought I'd go back and see if the jacket was still there. I had a feeling it wouldn't be. Hello? It had been a whole week and it was the only one, but I went anyway just to see. Of course it was gone. My heart sank. I searched through every rack. Maybe it had been stuffed or hidden by someone else. Nope. It was gone. I felt so bad, but on the other hand, knew I couldn't afford it. It would be selfish and irresponsible to buy such a materialistic thing when I needed to pay bills and buy groceries. Dang.
Today, I got a call from my sister, Sarah. She told me that Karen (my other sis) had told her that I was going back to look for the jacket and she wondered if I'd bought it. I told her no, that I hadn't and how sad I was, but not surprised it wasn't there. I mean really. It was super, freakin' cute.
She giggled and said how glad she was that I hadn't found one there because she'd gone back that day last week and bought it for me as a reward for losing weight and for working so hard at it! I couldn't believe it. I started crying and saying she shouldn't have done that. It was expensive and too big a gift. She didn't care about that and said that I needed to come get it!
I still can't believe it. I'm floored. Can I say it again? I can't believe it. It has been a very long time since someone has gotten me a gift like that . . . just because.
Sarah, thank you. You have no idea what this means. Not because of the jacket, but because you wanted to surprise me. Because you love giving, because you love to see people's faces light up. I know I'm not the only recipient of your love and generosity and I want you to know that I value it highly. You are so generous and I hope to return the same thrill to you one of these days. I sure love you . . . for everything you do to make my life and my kid's lives wonderful.
What a great feeling to know someone loves you so much that they'll do something like this just because it will make you smile.
5 comments:
You and your sister are so cute. My sister did something like that for me with a pair of shoes, and I treasure those shoes because they symbolize her love & generousity. And hey that jacket is an investment-- won't you look cute at your presentations?
Aw, you two look so much alike!
Way sweet! My brothers wouldn't think to do something like that for me lol, but one year they went in together and bought me one of those expensive mixers for Christmas. Their tag? "We want cheesecake!" :)
What a touching story with a happy ending! And congratulations on losing weight.:)
Hey, I know that jacket! I saw how foxy you looked in it on Sunday and kept meaning all day to tell you how great you looked. Yay for smaller sizes! And doubleplus yay for awesome sisters.
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