Daddy was always good at buying unique gifts for Martha and me. I always felt that they were special because he thought of the idea, picked the gifts out himself, and surprised us all. Usually Mom never even knew about them! Daddy's gifts were extra special because he was also good at keeping secrets. This is one way I am so much like my daddy.
This surprise gift-giving went way back. I think Daddy liked to surprise us from the time we were little girls right up until he died. I remember getting heart-shaped boxes of chocolates on Valentines from my Dad. He always got us greeting cards for every occasion. He was also famous for giving money...but not just giving money. The gift always had a certain amount and a certain meaning. He would write a note with the money explaining what it was for! It made it special that he thought of certain things that he knew we would need or want money for. He would give us money for gas or stamps....I think that was a hint for us to visit and to write! When I was in college, he often sent me booklets of stamps. He loved receiving letters from us, and I think he kept them all. He was very sentimental. This is yet another way I am so much like my Dad!
Daddy occasionally bought us a stuffed bunny or chicken for Easter. Once or twice he brought home Easter dibbies....these were LIVE baby chickens that were dyed in lovely pastel colors like pink or blue. I sometimes got an addition to my collection of little cat figurines. He'd either buy one for me or give me money to pick one out when we went on a trip. That was my favorite souvenir to buy for myself. Truck stops or country restaurants with gift shops attached were great places to find these little cats! We also got pecan log rolls at these places when we traveled. Sometimes Daddy got us a piece of jewelry or some candy for various occasions and holidays. He liked to bring us souvenirs when he returned from business trips. I'll never forget the can of smog he brought us back from Los Angeles! He thought that was so funny and unique. I'll have to admit, he was right. We got quite a kick out of that souvenir probably more than any I can remember. The best part was the stories it evoked from my Dad. Coming from Shelby, seeing LA (complete with its smog) made for some good tales from him!
Daddy also had "rules" about gift giving and receiving. He was very adamant about not opening gifts before the actual occasion. At Christmas time if he received a gift in the mail, (which he often did from clients), he insisted they go under the tree to be opened on Christmas morning. Sometimes gifts had to opened in a certain order or at the same time as another person (this happened a lot when he got something alike for both Martha and me). He drove us around to visit our friends that we had gifts for on December 23rd....none of this taking it to school or handing it to them any earlier than that! My Dad was a creature of habit and he liked tradition. There were just simply certain ways that you did certain things.
I guess I loved those rules he set because you can ask my children, my husband or my nephew about my rules and instructions. This proves that many traits and traditions are definitely passed down through the generations.
I still have the gold cross necklace my Daddy gave me on my 16th birthday. This was another of those gifts that he picked out and no one knew about. I suppose he felt that was a good time to remind me of my faith because he also gave me a book entitled "Pathways to Faith." It sits on the table in my guest room/craft room, so I see it every day as a reminder. It is a lovely book with illustrations of nature and it is printed on special paper. From time to time I pick it up and open it just to read the inscription Daddy wrote (although I have it memorized, it's nice to see it in his handwriting). It says: With Love to 'Double M' on her 16th b'day-The lil' girl whose goodness puts a 'gleam in my eyes' and always makes me proud to be her Daddy. 4/22/72.
I have had that book for almost 40 years, and I intend to keep it for as long as I live.
Daughters are special creatures. Sometimes people joke about teenage daughters and wanting to strangle them! I never felt that way about my daughter nor do I think my parents felt that way about me. I can say, however, that I can understand why SOME parents feel this way! Regardless of those teenage years, most daughters are a special breed and God knows what He is doing when he blesses families with daughters.
I think daughters and fathers share something that is so special it is almost hard to put into words. I feel it when I see my husband look at our daughter. There is truly that gleam in his eye. My daddy felt that way about his girls. I don't think he ever regretted not having a son. If ever I needed to feel loved and special, I just had to sit on my Daddy's lap, go with him to his office, watch tv with him, share a meal with him, or have him walk down the aisle with me at my wedding. It didn't matter what we were doing, he always made me feel like a beautiful princess. He was certainly a very happy father of two girls.....no question.
One particular Christmas (I was in high school or college), Daddy gave Martha and me each a porcelain bell with lavendar flowers painted on it. It has the sentiment "Happiness is Having a Daughter Like You" painted on it. It is also a music box. It plays a lovely song, but I don't recognize the tune. Someone with a better ear for music might know what it is. I was very touched by this gift because it obviously meant soemthing to my Dad and he was so proud to give them to us. It didn't really fit in with any of our decor and it might not have been something any of us would have picked out, but I cherished it just the same. I cherish even more today.
However, this bell is now shared with Madeline. I gave it to her when she was very little....she probably doesn't even remember getting it. I am sure she just thinks it's always been somewhere in her room...which it has. It is still in her bathroom. It is another of those things that I plan to keep forever. Who knows, maybe one day Madeline will have a daughter and she will want to put it in her room. That would be fine with me...the sentiment of the happiness a daughter can bring lives on. I'd like to think that Daddy chose this gift for me and for Martha because we really did bring happiness to his life.
He was a happy man, so it is nice to think that I played a part in this. I know that his family meant the world to him.
I try to remember when I give gifts that the meaning behind the gift is so much more important than the gift itself. This is a lesson well learned from my Dad.
I hope I have left the recipients of my gifts with some sort of special feeling or meaning that can enrich their lives, remind them of their importance, bring a smile to their face, or let them know that they have brought happiness into MY life.
Gifts can be a great way to make memories.
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| Happiness is having a Daughter like You. |
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| Pathways to Faith |
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| Inscription from Daddy |
