IT ARRIVED

Just over two weeks ago I told you about a story at this post.  A lady whose aunt bought an ornament at a garage sale 28 years ago, came across the ornament with the name of our son on the back, in her aunt's collection of Christmas ornaments.  She saw this particular one had a name,  a date of birth and other info painted on the back (I removed these in Paint Shop Pro just for this post for privacy purposes).  It was an ornament I had painted about 30 years ago, when I first started painting and taking part in craft shows, and wanted to commemorate our son's birth.  

Her niece came across it recently in her aunt's box of Christmas ornaments, was curious and did a search on line.  She found our son's name and sent him a message, asking if he was the one whose name was on the back of the ornament.  He confirmed that it was, and that his mother had painted it.  This lovely lady popped it in the mail and sent it to him.  It arrived and our son in turn brought it over the other day, and now I have this little family treasure back where it belongs.  I wrote about Gregg's theory of how it was lost at my post (link above)  

I am so thankful to this lady and also to her aunt, and will be writing a thank you letter asap.  

To this lady, if you read my post, I do want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.  There really are not enough words to tell you how grateful I am for your kindness.  But I do for returning this ornament to our family, and please thank your Aunt for keeping it safe all those years.  It will be hanging up on our tree next Christmas.  I will find a box for its storage, and inside the box will be written the history of its return.  

A STORY FOR YOU...A MYSTERY OF SORTS

Our son told us an extraordinary story a few days ago.  He had been contacted by someone on Facebook who sent him a photograph of a wooden ornament.  She said she had found it in her aunt's box of Christmas ornaments.  It was a Santa Claus and on the back was a name, date of birth and weight.  Her aunt told her that she had bought it from a garage sale 28 years ago, that she had liked the face on the ornament.  

What is extraordinary is that this was an ornament I painted for our son 30 years ago.  It even has my name on the back, done in tiny letters on the bottom, my signature that I put on every ornament I ever painted, with a tiny heart over the name.  

This lady's niece was curious and decided to do a search on Facebook, and up popped son's name.  She messaged him, sent him two photos of the ornament, front and back, and asked if he was the person whose name was on the ornament.  He told her it was and that his mother had painted it!

When he told me I was shocked because there was no way I would have given that ornament away to anyone.  It would have been hanging on our tree for years.  I remember painting the ornament, I remember hanging it on our tree, and then strangely it disappeared out of my memory until now. 

Gregg has a theory. In those days we used to buy live trees, and he thinks we may have overlooked the ornament still hanging on its branches, and that he took the tree to the curb to be picked up for disposal.  Maybe someone found it at the local garbage dump!  

Whatever the story is, it was found at a garage sale by this lady's aunt, in a town between here and Richmond, not too far from Fredericksburg, 65 miles south of us.  This lady is going to send it back to our son, and our son said he will bring it over as soon as he gets it.  Amazing!  

And I would like to say to that lady, thank you so much for returning this to us after all these years, and please thank your aunt for buying it in the first place. You have both done us an incredible kindness.  If there is a return address I will be writing to thank them personally.

Hope you enjoyed our little mystery tale. 

Thanks for stopping by.