For the Want of a Card

This post will be rambling.  I'll warn you.  My thoughts on it aren't organized and that feeling of have to get it down isn't there.  But maybe I will be able to get it going.

First, the title is fitting.  Back in October I was going through a real rough patch.  Feeling kind of crappy, health insurance worries, and the car needing a transmission.

Well one day I decided that I was going to celebrate Christmas, 2019 as my First Christmas past my Expiration Date.  Now the question you ask is how did I want to celebrate?  Cards.  Cards from everywhere.  So I did this post on Jean's Bucket List on Facebook and explained what I was thinking and hoping for.  It was shared over 38 times, which made me happy.  I got Halloween and Thanksgiving cards, about 40 of them.  I was hoping to get enough to fill the banisters  and the cards would be the decorations.

The cards would come in maybe four or five in a week.  But as of December 13 (I'll explain in a bit why I remember that date) only about 1/4 of it was filled.  So my big sister Carol, being the way she is thought I should have more cards, so she sent a link to my post to WJLA news here in Northern Virginia.   December 13 Caroline Patrickis from WJLA contacted me (by the way if you know her congratulate her!  She's engaged!!)  She came out and we sat and talked for about an hour, maybe a little more.  Later on the 6:30 PM news they ran a segment.

Mind you I wasn't overly concerned about it, I was more focused on the fact my son gave me a ticket to come visit he and Liz in New Orleans - which was only a few days away.

Saturday, was a rough day for me.  Felt out of kilter, and slightly depressed.  I walked down to the mail box and opened it.  What was in it caused me to jump.  Someone left me Gerber Daisies.  I love them, their color is so bright!  There were a few cards too.

Monday when I got the mail there were two big bundles stuffed in the mail box.  Around 380 pieces of it.  I was s
o shocked.  So I got them open, and got to work hanging.  I still felt a little off, so I took a nap, I was dreaming about BBQ.  I wanted BBQ. 

Next thing I know Mission BBQ is knocking at my door with food!!  I know I had a dumb look on my face.  All I could think of was I some how ordered BBQ in my sleep.  The young lady told me, no it was a gift from the Mission BBQ on Garrisonvile Road.  I was able to eat BBQ for dinner that night, lunch and dinner the next two days!!  The post office also showed up, again, this time with two trays of cards.

I was totally floored.  Then I started noticing where they were coming from, all over Virginia and Maryland, and neighboring states.

Tuesday and Wednesday deliveries were repeats of Monday, not a bundle, but two and three trays or totes of mail.  All I could think was I wouldn't be able to get all of this mail open before I left on Thursday morning!  I had to stay on task, get the house together, make sure the babysitter (THANK YOU SO MUCH FAYE!! My babies are my two dogs) get the cards opened and hung.

Wednesday, I was literally counting the minutes left because of everything.  Then around 6:30 PM people started showing up in the front yard.  Around 70 of them!!  All of them were there to sing me Christmas Carols!  Then the Fire Department showed up with a truck and an ambulance, bringing Santa to see me!!  I felt like crying I was so touched, happy, amazed that all these people did this for me, someone they don't know.  Someone who has been hiding the past year plus.  I kept telling myself I can't cry because I cry really ugly.  But I really wanted to.

People were stopping by randomly Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Bringing cards, candy, cookies. I just couldn't fathom people doing this for me.

Then I left to visit my son.  I was getting daily updates on the mail situation, and it was in full swing.  By the time I got home there were 18 trays of cards in the office, and the day I got home they brought me three more.  I stopped counting at 25 trays and tubs, because they were coming and going.  Think of it 25 trays with an average of 300 cards per tray, that is 7500, seven thousand five hundred cards and packages!

To say I was overwhelmed would put it very lightly.  I have gotten cards from Thailand, Taiwan, England, Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Ukraine, Cech Republic, Egypt, Spain, Hong Kong,  and even ANTARCTICA!! Plus every state in the United States.

People took the time to share memories with me.  One gentleman wrote about being at Wrigley's Field.  He wrote it so well that you could almost smell the hot dogs.  Another lady took me on her first tandem jump from an airplane.  One person said they didn't have a special place now, but remember how much love and security they always felt at their Grandparents home.  Many people love the beach for the calming effects of the ocean, just as many love the mountains.  One little boy said his favorite place is the soccer field because he loves to play.  A little girl said her favorite place is with her family.

It amazed me in this time how many people said that their special place wasn't anywhere in particular, but it was their family and the memories they are building and sharing.

People thanked me for sharing my story which gave them the chance to slow down and walk memory lane.  Oh, the memories people shared!

One gentleman, who is very well traveled by reading his adventures said his most favorite place of all is his home.  No matter where he has traveled or the wonders he saw, home is the best place of all.

This is one Christmas that will always forever be in my memory.  The world gave me an experience I will never forget.  I am humbled and so very grateful.

The thing I am most grateful for is people that don't know me, shared a part of their lives, their memories with me.  They opened their hearts.

This has given me hope for humanity.

The Interview  well part of it.  It shows the Caroling.  If anyone has links to the interview or the stories on the Freelance post them in comments.  Please.