Surprise! Surprise! (long/pic)

18 years ago

The back story:

When my DD was four years old, she saw, while we were out Christmas shopping, a bag of wooden blocks. She wanted those blocks so badly. Why? We never knew and could not imagine. Anyway, we had already gotten her a doll carriage and baby doll, and we could not afford to get the blocks, which were $25.00!

On Christmas morning she saw her gifts under the tree, and liked them, but then she looked around and with a very sad expression said, "I didn't get my blocks!" At that point we would have given anything for those blocks!

I often remembered that over the years, even though she never asked for blocks again. This year I decided it was time to grant her wish. I looked around on eBay, and yes, there were bags of blocks!

I don't have an eBay account. DD does, but I couldn't very well ask her to get them. That wouldn't be much of a surprise!

Some of you may remember that I asked if a KTer would bid for me. Fortunately someone very graciously offered and everything worked out fine. And now with her permission I can tell you that Santa Claus's helper was Chemocurl: the other Sue!

Here is the SURPRISE! Photo!

{{!gwi}}

She laughed so hard and long, others were asking What is it? What is it? She couldn't stop laughing, so I told them the story. They all enjoyed it and were impressed at how I worked it out to get the blocks. Later she told me this was the most creative gift she ever got!

We all need a little help from time to time. The KT came through again!

p.s. That is not me in the background; it is my DGD's MIL.

Sue

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Comments (23)

Linda Wayman
18 years ago
Sue, what a great story and that picture says it all. Thanks for sharig.

Linda
teresava
18 years ago
Aww I love the picture! She looks so happy!!

NitaAZ was my "Santa's Little Helper" once! She helped me get discount tickets to Sesame Place. My DD STILL talks about that trip and we were able to save about $40!!!

Thanks to Chemocurl and Nita!!!
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Helen, That is too close. I've had close calls like that before and they scared me to death. When I've had that sort of a close call, it is hard for me to go back into that area again because I am so afraid another snake will be there. I did notice that it was pretty wide and wondered if it either was about to give birth, or if it had had a really good day and found something good-sized to eat. You know, it is that time of the year. I think the copperheads here usually reproduce in August. I don't really have any suggestion about how to pick tomatoes in an area where you already have found snakes. Sometimes with beans or southern peas, I carry a 3 or 4' long metal green fence post with me (I use them to stake tomato cages) and stick it into the area where I am about to pick beans or southern peas. I move the foliage around a bit and look carefully at the ground and at the plants themselves trying to make sure there's not a snake in there. It is easy to do that with legume plants that are more lightweight and move around pretty easier. It would be harder with tomato plants that are sprawling on the ground as they are heavier and cannot be shifted around easily with a stick or pole. I've always felt pretty safe in the garden early in the day, assuming that the snakes already are out of the garden by daybreak. The encounter with a timber rattler that was headed into my garden, not out of it, a little after 9 a.m. one day a couple of weeks ago made me stop and think twice about that. Even though they tend to be nocturnal, I've had them in the garden more than I'd like during the daylight hours. Copperheads are not as aggressive as some other venomous snakes, or at least at our house they aren't. Even the timber rattlers would rather warn you to go away than to waste their venom on you. Chris stepped on a copperhead one night when he was getting out of his car when he was in college. It didn't even bite him, for which we were grateful, but as he pulled his leg back into the car and closed the door, it slithered under his car and headed straight for us and a bunch of our friends. We were sitting there in lawn chairs, so Tim had no choice but to shoot it because it was coming right towards us. Another time, back not too long after we moved here, Chris and I stepped right into a bunch of copperheads. It was a mother and a bunch of babies and they were moving across the pasture towards the pond in broad daylight and we stepped right into the middle of them in tall grass, saw them and then jumped and ran away. It is hard to believe that the adult at least didn't strike us. Ever since that happened, we always mow 6-8' wide paths through our pastures and only walk in the mowed pathways. At least that way we have a good chance of seeing the snakes before we step on them. Please be careful! You've had too many close calls lately. Dawn
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justlinda
18 years ago
What a neat thing to do for your daughter. Not often one gets to really surprise a loved one.

May I ask why she wanted the blocks originally? Enquiring minds need to know...LOL
grammahony
18 years ago
Oh, I know she enjoyed it as much as you did. There's lots of willing helpers here at the KT.
That's why I love it here.
Leslie
foggyj
18 years ago
Nice story. That is really a special gift. Kudos to your helper.
jennmonkey
18 years ago
I love that story! I'm so glad she finally got her blocks!
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
That's a keeper of a photo, Sue! I'm glad your DD remembered and enjoyed them. And kudos to Chemocurl Sue for helping you out. We are surrounded here by really nice people, I've said that many, many times.
glenda_al
18 years ago
You certainly can tell she was a "bit" surprised!

That's a great story!
maryanntx
18 years ago
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.....and that one says it all! What a fun gift and a wonderful thing for the other Sue to do.
kacram
18 years ago
I remember you asking for help! that is great! Glad you were able to capture the moment!
joyfulguy
18 years ago
Blocks're great!

Those one-purpose toys wear out one's imagination in about half an hour.

Blocks go on forever.

So do pots and pans from the kitchen cupboard ... or plain old cardboard boxes!

I've been picking up those produce trays from the grocery stores this fall, to store and carry my tomatoes. They're sturdy, and handy for carrying things.

I'm sure that kids would love them!

They're like radio - you have to build your own mental pictures.

TV does all of the work for you - but it's limiting!

Kids these days don't know how to make their own play.

ole joyful
ronm80
18 years ago
That story made my Christmas. Loved the picture.
santacltr2
18 years ago
What a wonderful story, I love the picture. She will remember this forever.
kathi_mdgd
18 years ago
Love the story and the picture.The picture says it all!!TFS and thanks to chemocurl for helping you out.
Kathi
gardenspice
18 years ago
Great idea & story, and the fact that a KTer played a part makes it even better!
ritamay91710
18 years ago
What a great picture!!!
I'm so glad that it worked out so well!!!
dibby
18 years ago
What a wonderful story, I love it!!
ronf_gw
18 years ago
Great Christmas story!
Ron
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
18 years ago
Sue,

She certainly seems pleased and surprised to say the least. Had you told anyone else at all, besides us here at KT about getting them for her?

I'm guessing that at different times over the years that there was mention of Santa not bringing the blocks when she had wanted them so badly...right?

I know I sure couldn't remember anything I wanted or even got when I was 4 years old...just 51 years ago.

I'm so happy it all worked out for you to have such a wonderful surprise for her. Now how you ever gonna top that next year?...lol

(the other) Sue...who was happy she could be Santa's helper
okwriter
18 years ago
Well, you two Sues did a GREAT job! That was a very cool thing to do!!! :-) Awesome pic, too!
lunchlady1948
18 years ago
In our family we call that a SCORE!! You got her the best gift of the year!
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Yes, Sue, there have been a few times when this little story about the blocks would come up in conversation. Usually at a time when DD was feeling deprived or having a pity party, and I would ask her if it was because she never got the blocks. lol. It was kind of a joke between us.

I didn't take the picture. My DGD's DH is the camera guy and I asked him to get a good shot as she opened the package. It is great, isn't it?

About next year? Geezz, give me a break!!

I'm glad you all enjoyed this little story, and it just goes to prove that it doesn't take much to make someone happy. AND, if she had gotten the blocks, there wouldn't have been a story to remember.

Sue
bestlawn
18 years ago
That was just perfect. That was PERFECT!!!
Good one for you, Sue.......and Sue.

Surprise! Surprise! (long/pic)

Comments (23)

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Surprise! Surprise! (long/pic)

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