The Gift of...

Love is the best gift of all... Right, but you can't even see that! I am one of those people who needs tangible gifts! Gifts that validate my existence in this massive, overly crowded, yet lonely universe. I can't help it. It is the way I am programmed. I know it's shallow. I do believe in, "It's the thought that counts". If that helps make me seem like any less of a selfish person. Anyways, gifts are great! Which brings me to my blog for today. I have received 2 gifts in the last 2 days that made my heart swell.

Gift #1: I was talking to my mom last week about my class. How much I love them, and the things I am doing with them. I got into talking about how each kid has a job in my class, and how much they really enjoy doing their job. Except for one little boy. His job for the week was botanist, so he would take care of the plants in my room. One problem. I had yet to buy a plant for my room. They are kind of pricey and I still hadn't gotten paid, and yet to have seen my first paycheck. 10 more days till payday! I hung up the phone and went about my business for the week. Well this last weekend I dog my close friend's dog Tiva so I wasn't home all weekend. When I did arrive home I found the most beautiful plant awaiting my arrival. There it sat perched on my desk. I did shed a few drops of eye moisture after reading the attached card. It had only 1 little message. "Congrats on your first teaching job.-Love Mom"

Gift #2: It is Monday and I am going about my business, per usual, at school. I just walked my kids through the lunch line and was warming up my lunch in the teacher's lounge. I was mulling over the events of the day leading up to lunch. As I was beginning a stratagem for the rest of the day someone walked in and said, "Special delivery for Mr. Sosa"! I was a little taken back. A gift? For me? The lady who announced my special delivery handed me a familiar white box with a familiar blue ribbon on it. I immediately recognized the package not only from sight, but from smell and touch as well. The small box was warm, and it had an intoxicating aroma that made me salivate, as well as make my stomach do somersaults of glee. This box, these feelings, took me back to my early years of college, especially exam times. Someone had sent me the best gift a connoisseur of fine delicatessens could receive... Tiff's Treats! I swear they make the best cookies on the face of the Earth. Not only do they make the best cookies ever, they deliver them fresh and still warm. Lucky for me, they just opened a Tiff's Treats next to my school. I read the card and I developed the biggest Cheshire grin on my face. Every one's eyes in the lounge were on me as they looked on with bated breath, dying to know who it was from. It didn't say who it was from, but the message on the attached card made it loud and clear, "Thanks for taking care of Tiva".