Driver Picks The Music…Observations on a life in Orange County, California

So I’m in a new job (finally!) with a big dog corporate office. That’s my name for it, but it has nothing do with  who they are or what they do. I’m just a cog in the machinery, but there’s a little gem to my working world. I sit in a cubicle aisle (yes cubicle) with five great people..some I used to work with elsewhere.

Now it’s the holiday season and the six-pack (our boss’s name for us) has fancied up our little cube aisle with fun and religiously indifferent decorations. We’ve refrained from reciting the nativity story and turned up a holiday carol only if Kermit the Frog was singing it. We’re all just happy to have jobs because all six of us had been laid off in our other jobs/lives last year or this year.  This means we’re happy, but the holidays are tinged with a whole lot of POOR going on.

Today; however, was a different animal. Today, Christmas Eve, one of our six, I’ll call her Sophie told us a story that actually brought a tear to my eye. I haven’t felt the heartwarming holiday season yet and thought it was a done deal with the big day, the 25th just around the corner, but no, here I was sniffing at the first telling…and again later when I heard it told to another. I’ll relate Sophie’s story of The Virtual Christmas.

Sophie, an older woman with an off/on working husband at retirement age (as if anybody could retire right now) is pretty much the bread winner in her house. Her house expanded by leaps and bounds this year. She took in a blind boarder, her son and his family (wife and three boys) moved in because of illness and her other son came home to roost on the only available spot, the couch, because the building market dried up in the Rockies (or somewhere east of here). Needless to say, Sophie’s supply of severance pay dried up quickly. Actually it dried up literally the day she started working at the big dog corporate office we’re in now. Christmas wasn’t going to be lean for Sophie, it was going to be a wisp of air.

Now Sophie, a grand woman of faith, prayed that she as the matriarch of the family would be able to find a way to spin the regularly scheduled speech to the grandkids of “you know Christmas is going to be lean this year” because it wasn’t going to be “lean” but just a feel of dental floss. Just then a grand idea popped into Sophie’s head. She thought and thought and prayed and decided it was just the thing to do.

Sophie gathered her family together and explained how Christmas would go this year. “I want you all to know that our holiday season, despite the cramped quarters, or maybe because of it, has been the most joyous to us so far.” The grandkids geared up for one of Grandma’s crazy plans. “If money were no object, I know I would have the most amazing gifts for all of you.” Little Jimmy rolled his eyes and thought to himself, sure I’d get that iTouch I wanted. “So that’s what our gift exchange is going to be this year. We’re having a Virtual Christmas.”

Daniel, father to Little Jimmy and the boys looked his mother in the eye. “Mom? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine,” said Sophie. “People always say it’s the thought that counts when giving a gift, so that’s what we’re going to do. Everyone is going to think about what they would like to give to each other if money were no object.” Sophie pulled a set of hand-made velvet bags in green, gold, red and silver. She handed them out to everyone. “Our neighbor had some fabric leftover from the school play, so I made some gift bags. Your job is to decide on a gift for each member of the family. You have to draw, cut-out, print or represent that ‘virtual’ gift in some form and put it in a bag. Before the house breaks apart for the grandkids visit to Alma’s folks, we’re going to exchange our virtual gifts, just like we would with real gifts. Sure we’re a day early…the eve of Christmas Eve, but we’ll put on the fire, sip some cocoa and unwrap each one.”

Daniel’s boys sighed in unison “aww Grandma, ” and Daniel squinted his disapproval. The others were silent, but Sophie’s husband slowly stood and wrapped an arm around his wife. “I for one am going to think long and hard about what you naysayers deserve for our virtual Christmas.” And with that, the family meeting ended.

Sophie worried for a week about how her experiment would go. Would they just scribble something on a piece of paper? Would they cut out a comic from the funny paper? One thing Sophie knew for sure, her own gifts were treasures to her children and grandchildren so she decorated her slips of paper with glitter and love.

The day arrived for Virtual Christmas. A pile of velvet bags lay at the feet of the plastic tree that had seen five too many holidays and Sophie wrapped herself in a toasty robe and handed out mugs of cocoa to all and a bowl of popcorn to the boys who sat at their parents’ feet. Sophie’s grandson, little Jimmy stood up. “I’d like to give my gifts first.” He picked up a set of bags and handed each one delicately to its recipient. “Open yours, Dad.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows and pulled the bag open slowly. He reached inside and brought out a triangle of folded paper. “This is what I used to flick across the school room to Mrs. Lindley’s desk in the sixth grade.” Everyone chuckled as Daniel unfolded the paper. It was a printout of an internet photo. The photo was of a set of New England Patriots season tickets. Jimmy leaned into his father’s leg “If money were no object, I’d send you to see all the games, Dad.” Daniel’s face warmed and he mussed the young boy’s hair. “Thank you, son.” Sophie’s husband coughed “I’m not gonna wait around for you slowpokes,” as he opened his bag. Inside was a magazine cut out of a super sleek jet airplane. “Well now, I think I know where I’ll be flying this every weekend…to those Patriot games!”

Within minutes everyone was laughing and excited to see what Virtual gifts they had been given. Nothing was rushed, everyone talked about their gifts and some even made great impressions. Sophie’s husband gave Daniel a real estate printout of a small inn up in the mountains. “Dad, you know that’s my dream job.” “Well son, I think those small business loans are opening up. Maybe now’s the time to really look into it.” Daniel gave his boys a virtual tent and promised to take them camping in the spring, no matter what the job outlook was like.

Sophie sat back and prayed again. Thanking God for her gift…along with the five houses and two laptops she received virtually. Sophie thanked God for the time with her family and a way to truly enjoy Christmas.

“Mom, you’re the last giver” Daniel helped his mother out of her chair. Sophie gathered her bags from the tree and handed out each one, placing the bag delicately into big and tiny palms. “Daniel, I give you the gift of wealth. I know you can make your dreams come true with His help.” Daniel hugged his mother tightly. “Boys, you each get the gift of wisdom. It often comes too late in life and you’ll benefit from getting it early.” Jimmy scratched his head. “I thought money was no object.” Sophie looked into her grandsons eyes. “It wasn’t. You can get an education with money, but you can’t buy wisdom. It’s a special and rare gift.” “To my young son, for whom I know the couch is a lonely place, I give the gift of love. It will come to you in many forms.” “I’ve had it all night, Mom.” Sophie turned to her daughter-in-law “and to my only daughter, I give the precious gift of health.” She saw all eyes begin to tear up. She quickly handed her next bag to her husband. “Dear, you didn’t have to get me anything.” “I know, that’s why I’m re-gifting to you.” “Re-gifting?” Sophie kissed her husband on the cheek. “You get my heart. Again.” The family clapped and celebrated. Daniel spoke up “Mom, when we do this again next year… let’s use these bags again.” Sophie’s joy swelled. Next year! It really was the best Christmas yet.

When I heard the story today, I knew I had to put virtual pen to paper. That’s the Christmas I want. In fact, I think I want all my Christmases like that.

OH, and to the blind boarder,  Sophie gave the gift of family. Hers.