Dear Judy: 12/13/16

12/13/16

Dear Judy,

I just got your Christmas gift in the mail today. I love it. I genuinely do.

For the last years, as many as I can remember, you have sent me a cat gift. At first, I think I was annoyed because I wanted money. Plus, I'm used to family members sending money if they send anything at all. It's interesting because I'm not close to my extended family, so they became dollar signs in my eyes?

As the cat gifts continued coming, I went through a period of thinking you don't know me at all. Which is essentially true. None in my family really know who I am as an adult, including my mom. She knows the most, but still very limited.

Then, I looked forward to the cat gifts because I appreciated you sending me a gift in the first place. This is what we are told we are supposed to feel when we receive presents. Perhaps it's age or repetition that brought the feeling about for real. And I liked the view of me in your eyes. Maybe you did have trouble buying me a present, wondering if I would like it. But I really began to appreciate them. And the tea cup was my very favorite. I still use and love it.

I saw you earlier this year. You and your sister came to visit my mom. The three of you came down to Phoenix and we went to Butterfly Wonderland. Mostly, I liked seeing you all together. I like that my mom has sisters and you can experience part of her life on the other side of the country. I also kind of did some hinting when we were in the gift shop. Not so much that I wanted you to buy me something there, but that I like things without cats on them. Just give you a little glimpse.

And this year, I could tell before opening the package that there was a book inside. And when I unwrapped it, it was two books-journals, in fact. I LOVE JOURNALS. Perhaps you asked my mom what I would like. There are no cats in sight. Though, a journal with a cat on it would be cute. I especially like (though you probably don't know you did this) that the colors of the journals are the same color that was the theme in my grandparents' house, the house you still live in. The journals are for me, and have a flavor of you and my grandparents. I love it. I love it. Thank you, Judy.

Shannon