A Special Christmas Present

One Christmas I decided to get my husband “Bill” a “special” Christmas present. (Like, don’t we always go for these kinds of presents anyway?)
It all began earlier on a Sunday morning when we were having breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House in Ocean City. At that time, we were living in Berlin Township but had a huge dream of someday moving to our favorite shore town.
Until we could make that happen, it was our Sunday tradition to take the hour drive and spend the day at the beach, but only after our pancake house visit.
While we were waiting to be seated, we spotted a landscape hanging on the wall that took our breath away. You see, ever since we finished building our living room addition in Berlin, there had always been a wall with nothing on it.
The other three walls were complete (on with a big marlin) however, one wall remained empty.
We had never been able to fund the best picture or painting for that space. So, we were both so excited on that day at Uncle Bill’s.
It was just what we had been looking for. It was a 3-foot, 3D round wooden hanging piece that had a lifeguard stand and a lifeboat placed at the water’s edge with a beautiful sky. It would be perfect.
We decided that someday, later in life, and after we saved up for it (after all, it wasn’t from the dollar store), it would be ours.
We made a note of the artist, Sandra Williams. Over time, whenever we visited Uncle Bill’s we were sure to gaze at our dream landscape, imagining it in our living room.
A few years passed until one Christmas I decided I wanted to surprise Bill and get that wall hanging for him.
After surfing the web and a few phone calls, I was able to find the piece at a store in Ocean City.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my Mom and I went to the store. The clerk at the Cricket Box told us that I could have one custom made, with special features on it.
I ordered it that week with one special feature. I asked that the number 9 be put on the lifeguard stand.
This is the street leading into Ocean City where, years earlier, Bill and I were married. (I know Harlequin Romances has nothing on me.)
My order was ready the week before Christmas. My sister Lynn, who lived nearby, picked it up and kept it for me. She would bring it when she came to my house in the afternoon on Christmas day.
I was very excited when Christmas morning came. I couldn’t wait for my sister to arrive. But first, my family had gifts to open.
When it came time for Bill to give me my gift, he moved the couch out from the wall and produced a very large box. For the life of me, I would not figure out what it was.
As I ripped open the package, Bill looked on with anxious anticipation.
There, on the floor of my living room, coming out of the Christmas wrapping paper, was a wall hanging. As you might have guessed, it had a lifeguard stand and a lifeboat and a beautiful day. And yes, it had that custom made special feature the number 9 on it.
Now it is Christmas 2018 and we have so much to be thankful for. Our home is at the sea and we have a special landscape hanging on our living room wall.
As Denzel Washington recently said, “Put God first.” Put your faith in Him to give you someone who lights up your world, has the same dreams and goals and is willing to make sacrifices with you for them to happen. Merry Christmas.
Smith writes from Ocean City.