A Quarter of a Century
Dear Ann,
Christmas Eve is a very special time of year as we all know, but in our family we have another reason to celebrate. It is Charley’s birthday. Even though it all comes together at one time for her, we have always celebrated her birthday before we go on to Christmas Day.
This year was no different other, than on this birthday it was her 25th: she was a quarter of a century old. Her Dad asked what she would like to do & where she would like to go to celebrate the event. She chose a Korean Restaurant, but prior to us all leaving for that venue we were to meet at David’s place at 5.30 p.m., which would give us all time to present her with her gifts.
I had been planning what to give her for months & she is very easy for me to buy for. When I saw anything that screamed out to me ‘that looks like Charley’, I bought it on the spot.
It’s marvellous what pharmacies stock up on these days & my pharmacy is no exception. One day they had this gorgeous black material & lace wrap on a model that took my eye immediately. I was feeling pretty sure she would like it but was a little’ iffy’ about it as it was quite expensive.
All the staff know me in there, as I have often given their thirty employees a little Christmas pudding each to thank them for their service all year, so I feel I am rather special to those who know me well, which led me to ask a special request. I told the sales girls that I wanted to buy the wrap for my grand daughter, but if she didn’t like it would they refund my money after Christmas as this was early in November.
They smiled & did say “we will do it for you!” So I got the girls to wrap it in a lovely gold box & carry bag (it looked very special having previously held chocolates). I was pleased with my purchase.
The following week Charley & I had lunch together at Micheles Patisserie in our very small shopping mall & I had to go to the pharmacy. As we walked in Charley saw the wrap across the other side of the shop, made her way over to it saying “Look at this Gran, isn’t it beautiful?”
I was a bit in doubt as to whether she would think the lace too old fashioned as it was quite a heavy lace. However, I sauntered over to it & said how nice it was & when Charley was not watching I said to the staff “I won’t be bringing it back!’
When she unwrapped it & was thanking me she said how she had been thinking at the time that she had hoped I would buy it for her. I told her at that point of time I already had!
I also bought at the time all the jewellery accessories to go with it, which amounted to a whole package in itself. Then I kept on buying her very lovely black wraps. She wears mostly black, which makes it easy.
Her favourite wrap.
I ended up with about four of them, but the first one is the favourite by a mile Although one smaller one just for the bust line was a neat little thing that came from Wesley, her cat. She thought that was ‘THE’ special present amongst her birthday loot! She absolutely loves her cat!
Another day I had taken some Christmas puddings into a little boutique we have in our small shopping mall where they know me very well. Â I had finished my business there & on the way out saw a magnificent jump suit hanging in the racks, which prompted me immediately to say to Narelle, the shop assistant “You didn’t tell me about this Narelle, my Granddaughter would love it.”
It was slacks attached to the top of the garment with a flowing wrap around it & only  one wide sequined strap over one shoulder.  It looked so elegant & smart . I think I am correct in calling it a jump suit.  They are a problem when you need to go to the toilet, but they can look good!
However, be that as it may, Narelle gave me a good discount on it & I bought it on the spot.  Charley needed no bidding when she opened the package, fell in love with it  at first sight & dashed up the stairs to immediately wear it. She looked very glamorous as she walked down the stairs so I ticked that off as a good choice too.
I had a special birthday card for her of course from Gran to Granddaughter that read:
Happy Birthday Grand Daughter.
Sunshine in overalls Smiles in pigtails,
Grace in sneakers & jeans,
Light in your life,
Love in your heart that’s what Granddaughter means.From the time you were born you’ve added so much joy to life with your sweet smiles & happy laughter & watching you grow has brought so much pride.
From the day you were born you have been loved more than you can ever guess.
Then I added my own comments at the end of the card:
“And I have been truly Blessed to have had you in my life for 25 years.
You have made such a difference to my life.
God Bless you always because I do & I love you heaps.
Gran X O X O
The last words brought a tear to her eye. We have always had a special bond.
So as we sat up on the kitchen stools at the kitchen bench Charley opened all the cards & all the gifts I had kept one until very last as I had kept all $2 coins over quite a few months putting them in a not too large jar. I stacked them in until not one more little one would go in.
I wrapped the jar up in a small kitchen towel & tied it up in a little box. It was as heavy as lead. I really don’t know how, in the old Western films, the cowboys used to throw bags of gold onto their horse & gallop off with it! The poor horse would never be able to carry the load!
Counting the $2 coins.
I told Charley the package was as heavy as concrete & maybe it was an ornament for the garden, but I doubt I was very convincing.
I wasn’t sure just how many coins were in the jar, but when it was all disclosed & tipped out onto the towel Charley counted four hundred $2 coins. As she had only just moved into a Granny Flat, which will be very hot in summer she thinks she will get herself a good portable cooling fan which would be sensible.
So after the Happy Hour we drove off to our Korean Restaurant which was an excellent choice on Charley’s part as the meal was absolutely delicious. All the plates were clean as a whistle, so it seems the food must have been as Colonel Sanders said.. ‘finger lickin good’!
Love you heaps. Dawn X O X