"I get knocked down, but I get up again"

My friend Marquessa writes an awesome blog (I’ll find out how to link it below if you wanted to check it out) and on one of her latest posts, she asks “What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?”

Such a great question!

I’m so happy to be able to share mine with you.

When I was about 10, Jay and I were in the toy store (we lived in a tiny town so only had the ONE newsagency which would double as a “Toyland” every December), running around LOVING so many of the toys displayed on the shelves. I was really into cabbage patch dolls at the time (remember those?) and I really wanted the big box with TWINS in it – one boy and one girl. That was my dream for growing up – that I’d have one of each – and I wanted to practice with those incredible, magical, amazing dolls. I hugged the box to my chest, wishing.

“Come on, guys – time to go” Dad called and Jay and I dutifully followed him out.

In our family history, Jay is KING. What he wants is the most important thing to my parents so I learnt pretty quickly not to hope for anything for myself at Christmas. Sure, I’d get 4-5 small gifts (Jay would get at LEAST 40. At bare minimum)…but they were obviously gifts added to the trolley as an afterthought. I knew when I unwrapped hair bands, sneakers for Netball and colourful 80’s style bangles the year before that my parents weren’t picking gifts with love the way they did with Jay, they were picking with obligation for me.

Anyway.

Christmas rolled around and as usual, I separated the gifts into piles; one “For Jason, Love Santa” (a huge mound of gifts) and the other into a small “For Jan” (I hate being called Jan by the way – PUKE) set of gifts.

One of the gifts for me was a big box.

The box looked about the size of the box in the Toy Store that contained the twins I wanted. I couldn’t take my eyes off it, I was filled with so much hope, but so much fear. I didn’t want to be let down again this year. I couldn’t let myself hope, it never ended well for me.

Mom, Dad and I watched as Jay opened gift after gift. (I always waited until he was on his last 4-5 gifts so I could pretend we’d been given the same amount). Slowly, carefully drawing out time and hoping my wish had come true, I’d unwrapped the other gifts (new shoes for school, a colouring book and pencils, a writing set) and turned my attention to the big box.

Could it be?

Was this the first Christmas I’d get something I actually wanted/asked for?

My hands trembled as I opened a corner of the box which revealed the ‘cabbage patch’ logo.

OH.

MY.

GOD.

Screaming with joy, I tore off the paper and held the box aloft. My wish had come true!!! It was the twin dolls I wanted!!!

I raced over to hug Mom and Dad “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” I was so excited. Dad laughed as he hugged me back “You’re welcome, babygirl”.

It was probably the best Christmas I’d ever had because I got the very gift I’d been wishing for.

I’ve had TWO other gifts (not related at all to Christmas, funnily enough) that have meant the absolute world to me, but I’ll write to you about them another time. I’ve talked for long enough today! Hahahahaha.

Please let me know of gifts you’ve absolutely adored, I’d love to know.

Big hug, talk soon.