Unexpected Treasures

The Bracelet, Handmade for me April 2016

The bright-eyed boy with wild hair and eyes full of mischief sat down next to me, reached into the desk behind me and said, "She made a present for you." He was referring to the young lady who was, at present, reading an article about a man who works in the rain forests in Mexico. "Did you?" I asked, looking at her and smiling. She shyly nodded her head and looked away, her reading stopped as she awaited my reaction. I turned and held out my hand. The boy put the lovely little treasure on my palm. "I think she wants you to wear he," he explained to me. I held it up next to my wrist. "I don't think it will fit my big ol' fat wrist," I declared and they both giggled. "I love it anyway," I announced proudly. Her eyes lit up at my praise and she hugged me tight. I tucked her gift into my lunchbox for safe traveling and shortly after saying my goodbyes, headed for home.

My brain is now filled with memories of unexpected treasures given to me over the years and the givers, some as tentative and unsure as that lovely young lady in regards to how those gifts would be received... a pixel statue of a sad angel to comfort me from the loss of my son, napkins with love notes written on them that were discreetly tucked inside my lunchbox, and handmade cards decorated and often filled with poetry from my daughters when they were young...these treasures are more precious to me than I have the words to express. I save them all in a giant treasure box I keep in my closet. When I'm having a particularly difficult day, I sometimes pull out the box, sit on the floor, and surround myself with these little love tokens. Each one reminds me of the most important thing I will ever need to know...that I matter.