The Last Gift

Yesterday marked the start of the annual Trails West Festival in St. Joseph, MO.  Every year at this time I am reminded of a gift, the last gift I ever gave to my beloved Gammy... A gift I didn't even pay for.

We moved to St. Joe in August of 2010.  We had been here around 3 weeks when Trails West began, so we loaded up the kids and headed down to check it out.  They have live music, activities for the kids, arts and crafts booths, and food vendors galore.  We started with the stuff for the kiddos.  It was hot, as it usually is in August.  They had a blast making crafts, playing with giant bubbles, watching magicians, etc.

I wanted to walk through the booths, so we headed to that area of the park.  As I was walking through I saw a lady who was selling her fused glass creations.  After working to restore stained glass, I have always been interested in glass work, so I stopped to browse.  She had a little basket with iridescent glass stud earrings.  My first thought was of Gammy.  She always loved iridescent things.  She often commented about the beautiful colors they would pick up.

While we shopped and enjoyed our day, Gammy was back home, 4 hours away, fighting cancer.  She had been diagnosed in May, I think. It had only been 4 months, but from the reports my mom was giving me, it wasn't looking good.  My dad had just told me that I would be shocked when I saw her. It wasn't long until we were headed down there for a visit, but I worried about her and prayed for her recovery.

As I looked over several pairs of the earrings, I wanted to buy a pair for Gammy.  We had just bought a house, moved to a new town and got kids started in school- an expensive time for any family, especially with 3 kids on one income!  So, I decided against making the purchase and put the delicate studs down.  

Just as I was going to walk away, the artist stopped me.  "Didn't you find any you liked?"  I told her I was just browsing, and they made me think of my grandma.  I told her how she loved earrings like that and how she had just gotten her ears pierced not many years before.  Then I told her that they were probably not practical since she is in bed most days fighting cancer.

At that point, the artist said, "Pick a pair.  They are my gift to you and your grandma.  Tell her to stay strong and beautiful."  I told her that was very kind, but she didn't need to give me a pair.  I could buy them.  But she insisted.  She put them in a little bag, thanked me for stopping in and sent best wishes to Gammy.

A couple of weeks later, I finally made the trip home.  Just like my dad had told me, I was shocked by the decline in Gammy's health.  She had always taken great pride in her appearance, worried about her "wild" hair, and dressed so pretty.  Due to the treatments, she had lost her hair and lost so much weight she didn't even look like herself.

I gave her the earrings and she said, "Oh, Bekka, how beautiful and sparkly!  Just look at those colors!"  At that moment, even though she didn't look like herself, she sounded like herself.  I told her the story of the generous artist.  Then, she asked me to help her put them on.

I gently put the earrings into her ears.  I don't think I had ever put earrings on another person.  I was certain she could pull through and beat this cancer.  I never imagined that this would be the last gift I gave her.  Gammy passed away in November that year, just 3 days after Thanksgiving.  She never took the earrings out.

I am grateful to the artist who was so kind to give me those earrings.  I may have walked away that day and never had the chance to give my Gammy another gift.  She gave me so much in her lifetime, I am thankful I had one last chance to let her know how much I thought of her, how much I loved her.

$2.50

Camden asked for an egg sandwich today, and we were out of eggs.  I told him I would pick some up after our first soccer game of the season, and he could have a sandwich for lunch.

On our way home, I ran in the grocery store.  I was greeted by some Boy and Girl Scouts.  They were "Scouting for Food".  They gave me a list of things that were most needed in our local food pantry, and I quickly went on my way to grab the eggs.  I was in there to get in and get out.

I was almost at the back of the store when I decided to pick up a gallon of milk, as well.  So I have my eggs in one hand, my milk in the other and pass by a Velveeta display with a coupon for $1.00 off a package.  Knowing I have a recipe that I have all of the ingredients for in my cabinet, except the Velveeta, I picked it up, too.

That's when I see the shells and cheese.  I think about all of the hungry families, and how much my kids love the creaminess of Velveeta shells and cheese, and decide to add one of those to my precariously stacked groceries in my arms.  One box is really all I could carry, $2.49 was the price.

I felt a little chintzy with my one box of food as I handed it to the scouts, especially when the guy before me handed them two bags full.  But really, it was all I could carry at that moment, and I was in a rush while the family waited outside.

After I returned home, it struck me... What if every family who walked in the store today gave one item?  It only added $2.50 to my bill.  It would almost go unnoticed when added to a $50 grocery bill. But to a family who has nothing, it could provide a meal.   There were no fewer than 10 people in line when I was there, and I was in the store for less than 10 minutes.  Imagine if 60 people per hour donated 1 item.  Canned food is less than a dollar, boxed dinners less than two.  Minimal increase in your grocery bill, but it could make a huge difference!

From now on,  I will make an effort to buy at least one of the much needed items on my regular shopping trips.  Please consider joining me!