Patricia Coffie of Iowa is our storyteller for today and shares some memories of family gift-giving that was fun and, well...surprising!
Gifts in My Life
At Christmas one year, we began to talk about
Christmas gifts that were something clever—something with a worth more than
dollars.
One of the best Christmases of those years included
these gifts for me. My son, Chris, provided a blue fox ice scraper. My son, Dan, gave a small Wonder Woman action
figure. I wore the “chicken god” just received from one of my nine bosses.
There was an extravagantly wrapped jewel box package from my brother,
Russ.
The ice scraper from Chris was elegance and
application combined and to be shared in our Iowa winters. Dan and I had been
discussing how to tell the good action figures from the bad ones as it seemed
they were all powerful enough to kill or save. We had searched for an action
figure on the good side and he had decided on Wonder Woman.
The “chicken god” was from my boss’ trip to Russia.
It is a stone worn smooth by the waves and sand and worn through so that it had
a hole in it. In the local lore, a stone like this is known as a “chicken
god.”
On that Christmas visit to my brother’s, I misplaced
this special stone. I called Russ from home and asked if he had seen it. He
said “Just a minute.” Then he hollered out “Hey, Carla. You know that crooked
burnt cheerio that Pat likes to wear on a string around her neck? She thinks
she might have left it in the baby’s room. Will you check?”
I found the “chicken god” at home and it reminds me
every Christmas that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
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| Patricia unwrapping a surprising gift |
Dan and Chris and I decided that Russ’ gift was so
gross, we would be gross in reply. The next year we were prepared to send 144
ping pong balls to Russ’ family. That would be one gross. We found the price of
a full gross was too much for us so settled for half a gross or 72.
We wrapped each of the 72 ping pong balls
individually, complete with bows. The
bows gave the cat and dog easy gripping and while we wrapped, they carried the
little packages off. We would retrieve them and finally put all in a big bag
for delivery at the family Christmas gathering.
Russ and Carla laughed and laughed and their three
little girls enjoyed unwrapping and playing with the ping pong balls for weeks
afterward. We enjoyed finding the rest of the ones the cat and dog had kept
hidden at our place.
Those two are among our best Christmases.
Patricia Rose Ballard Coffie
C1986
Thanks, Patricia! Here's more about today's storyteller from the National Storytelling Network's website:
Patricia Coffie was born interested. She tells original stories of love and laughter and sometimes tears. Patricia has been a regular at the Northlands Storytelling Network annual conference for more than 30 years. Her workshops have included puppetry and personal stories. She has had articles published in the Northlands Journal. Patricia is a past president of Northlands and past board member of National Storytelling Network (back when it was NAPPS). National Storytelling Association Leadership Award 1997 and ORACLE: Distinguished National Service Award 2013.
Patricia Coffie has been a puppeteer since 1970. She has seen miracles happen when people are given the freedom to share puppetry. She taught puppetry annually at Wartburg College and has more than 40 years experience in schools, libraries, and churches.
Contact Patricia at:
Patricia Coffie
Come back tomorrow for another story of the season!
Another interesting story.
ReplyDeleteMy whole family is enjoying this memory of Christmases past. Now the grandchildren can feel the joy we all felt together long ago.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying these stories, thanks for posting them!
ReplyDelete