Uh, I really don't know what to say.......Are you an author or something? You sure are a good writer.
GOOOD MOOORNING! Thanks for the start here, there have been many over the last 48 years. Oh my goodness, I have to tell you's the most dear thing Martin (my mr.)ever did for me.
Early on, like most young couples, we didn't have our money tree out back, or in the front for that matter, still don't. But we said our vows and exchanged heirloom rings on that October afternoon. We had picked out a beautiful set, but with tough times comes those years as it were,. where we had to Lay-Away our rings. At the rate of payment it would have been months before we could finally share our binding heavenly bands of gold. We wasted no time after the nuptials, so I was in that way rather quickly. So with "one on the way" and almost Christmas, we had an even tighter belt, and worked hard to make ends meet with educational expenses to boot. Christmas always came as the most special time of the year for us and our families even without many of the grand sights of silver and gold, tinsel and bells, we did have our glistening aluminum tree. YES--even the color wheel!
As you all might well know by now, I just love the sweets. Well so did Martin(then) and every year since, even now he finds a way to slip a "sampler" under the tree. It was Christmas Eve and we had a dozen relatives over for a not so simple goose dinner, lots of merriment, stories of us as sprouts, a snifter or two later, exchanged a gift and had a few laughs, said Good Night and MERRY CHRISTMAS! All were finally on the road to their own boughs of Holly and candle lit windows, while Martin and I readied ourselves for bed. As he started his---- traditional after Christmas dinner- box of chocolates then. He said I needed to go get that other box from under the tree. I of course, went into my faining of interest phase and glided to the now dark shimmering tree and picked up that box of GOOD and plentiful chocolates. I loved those Jellies they use to put inside them. But since Martin didn't wrap it outside of a green ribbon and a bow, it was obvious what it was. He did a fine job of playing it cool as I started to struggle with the wrapper. I said "Here, open this will ya Honey" He took the box and with his magic blade slit the ribbon and side then handed it back to me. I said to go ahead and open it as I was starting to clean up a little bit. He took my arm and put the box back into my hand and said he had to run outdoors a minute, nature calls! Ours was a fine "two Holer" with the traditional crescent moon high in the door, and a bucket of cobs for effect.
Well as he twisted away with a peck on the lips he scurried off like a squirrel with a nut, I began to consume that succulent cocoa and sugar. I was into my second almond truffle when I saw that tell-tale, foiled JELLIED JOY! As the last slurry of that almond delight disappeared to it's reward, and I grappled with that golden foil, it dawned on me just how delectable it actually was. As the tears began to cascade down my cheeks, it was so hard to focus through those Crystal orbs chasing one after the other. I caught him peaking through the door with the grin of a Cheshire cat and that sweeeet dear man started to giggle at me. It took me a minute or two to compose myself as I wrapped my trembling arms around his fuzzy little neck and bride-like kissed the air straight out of his lungs. I was SO SHOCKED! I didn't expect to see those rings for several more months and asked him how in SAM HILL did you get them!!!!!! and THEN----get them inside that box!!! without even the slightest sign of tampering. Well he use to rebuild tractors and had one special McCorrick Deahring? (not sure of the spelling) He just loved. Well he took that old tractor he was rebuilding at a friends farm, sold it to a collector from the Twin Cities area as it turned out, then went and paid fully for the rings. He took a razor, slit the wrapping, carefully pulled it apart underneath, ate the Jelly wrapped in foil and hid the rings inside the foil, puffing it it up a bit to look normal. Slipped the wrapper back together and sealed it with a glue of some kind. I HAD NOT A CLUE! Our evening had a finale like the Fourth Of July! I have been a lucky gal all these years in that way. He has always been a romatic soul and I have ALWAYS been so thankful for that.
He just smiles!
God Bless.
