The Best Gift by Rachel Donaldson (smart books to read TXT) 📕

At some point in your life chances are you have received a gift that will always prevail above others, all me disclose the most outstanding gift I ever received. This story admittedly starts when I was 14, but doesn’t end until an extensive 12 years later. I started begging for a Kitchenaid mixer when I turned 18. Asking for particular Christmas gifts is not my strong suit, but this was one my exception. I don’t really remember when my obsession with a Kitchenaid started. All I know is from a young age I started watching cooking shows whenever I could, and if you have ever had the pleasure of watching some of these shows you know that a Kitchenaid is always at the forefront of their kitchen gadgets. Starting that year, and every year following, I knew I had to get my hands on one, so I started telling my parents I wanted a Kitchenaid mixer. For me nothing else mattered and honestly what the Kitchenaid mixer looked like didn’t matter either. Every year I would unwrap a light brightly colored package that always ended in bitter sweet disappointment, as I silently remembered my mother’s “you don’t get what you ask for policy”.

Fast forward 8 years to my 26th year of life to the year that things changed drastically. On that wonderful Christmas day I received my coveted Kitchenaid mixer. Moving as slowly as a sloth down the stairs to the living room relishing in the thought of what might be under the tree.  As I stepped into the dimly lit room, my mom swears that her perfectly lit Christmas tree makes the best ambiance for opening presents. There was an odd feeling in the air, something was very different. Bang! Immediately I noticed a substantial package wrapped in luminous colored red and green paper. Instinctively I knew I needed to wait til last to open it. Noiselessly  I started reminding myself to not exhibit my sadness and disappointment when it finally came time to discover what was under that exquisite wrapping paper. Time seemed to fly like geese flying south for the winter. Finally, I crouched down to pick it up. As I started to straight up I almost dropped it from the sheer weight. It felt as though it was filled with large rocks just waiting for a sick prank to unfold. Glancing over at my parents and they both were staring at me intently, their eyes boring holes into my head. They were obviously trying to suppress smiles that were steadily creeping onto their faces.

I felt my whole body quivering as I slowly opened the package, holding my breath in anticipation, my heart beat started to quicken and I uttered quietly under my breath “Could this be the year?” At a snail’s pace I started to peel back the wrapping paper, all eyes were on me. When I had exposed enough of the box to reveal the large red words Kitc...I started bawling hysterically. Everything began to blur as the tears rushed down my face. My whole body shook as I released uncontrollable sobs of gratitude. Unbeknownst to my parents at the time, I was in the early stages of my second pregnancy. The combination of the “perfect” gift and stirring hormones of the gift I was secretly carrying was too much to bear. I felt such a rush of emotion that it felt like I was sinking in a large pool of feelings. Looking back, I remember sitting there with my head clutched tightly in  my hands crying for what felt like an eternity. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t seem to control myself.

Now don’t confuse my tears with sadness! I’m sure everyone has shed some happy tears in their life, my happy tears just came out as a waterfall, a gushing geyser of gratitude. When I finally looked up I was shocked to see that all eyes were on me. Some with a mix of concern and happiness and some with dismay and uncomfortableness. Silently, my mother glided over to the couch where I was perched. Her smile was so big it lit up the whole room. Barley over a whisper she asked me if I was going to continue opening it. To this day my parents still beam with pride whenever they see me using my Kitchenaid and let me tell you I use it often! I have never had the heart to explain the whole story to them and probably never will. Instead my Kitchenaid mixer will go down in gift giving infamy.

Publication Date: 05-12-2021

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