Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Christmas Gifts (11/13/08)
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TITLE: The Gift of History | Previous Challenge Entry
By Judy Doyle
11/20/08 -
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By phone, I quizzed my sister-in-law.
“What would the kids like for Christmas?” The kids were my grandnieces and grandnephews.
“Nate likes to read nonfiction books. He's especially interested in World War 2,” she answered.
I noted the other kids’ interests, too. But a seed had been planted in my mind and my heart. If Nate is interested in World War 2, I thought, what an opportunity for him to learn about his great-grandfather, my father. I continued thinking. He needs to hear about his great-grandfather and how he earned the Purple Heart. I had all the facts. All I needed to do was to write the history.
About five o’clock Saturday night, I sat before a blank computer screen and watched the cursor blinking. How do I begin telling this story to a ten-year-old, I asked myself? Suddenly the words began to flow. When I wasn't sure about my facts, I pulled out the three-inch three ring binders and thumbed through Dad's military records. Eventually, I was satisfied with the account I'd written. No, I wasn't satisfied. Suddenly I realized the history wasn't complete. Nate needed to know about his great-grandmother as well.
“What's for supper?” My husband asked. Supper? Was it time for supper already?
“Leftovers.” I really didn't want to take the time to prepare a meal. I was on a roll or so I thought. But I took the time to heat up the leftovers. What an understanding hubby I have! He knew what I was writing and let me continue the project.
I wrote about my mom. Nate learned how his great-grandparents met. He would read about Mom’s adventures in England and Israel. When I was done, I selected photographs to drop into the history book.
Ah, it's done, I thought with satisfaction. Now, the struggle was to put it in a book format.
That task took longer. Although computer literate, I could not remember how to get my project to print as a book. Finally, a friend, not as computer literate as me, told me what I need to do. Duh!
Finally it was Christmas Day. Sitting before me, with brown eyes looking intently at me as I knelt on the floor, was my ten-year-old grandnephew, Nate. That was what I wanted. I wanted him to understand the significance of the gift he was going to receive. It was not a Nintendo game or a Wii.
“Nate, I understand you like to read books about World War 2,” I said as I looked squarely into his eyes. He nodded his head. “First, I want you to open your gifts.” He did and seemed genuinely appreciative. “Now,” I began again and handed him another present. “This little book is about your great-grandparents. Your dad’s grandparents, your grampa’s mom and dad. I want you to know the circumstances of your great-grandfather receiving the Purple Heart." On the cover of the book entitled The Memoirs of Norman and Clara (Burton) Welch was a picture of his great-grandparents. A more attentive person couldn't have had been sitting before me. “I hope you'll like the book, Nate.”
Already paging through the book, he answered, “Oh, I will.”
In my fifty plus years of life, I've given and received lots of gifts. However, this was a gift that was truly from the heart. Nate will know more about his great-grandparents than I knew about my great-grandparents.
My parents are deceased. They made every Christmas special even when we had very little. However, I am what I am today because they taught me the importance of morality and of my mother's Christian witness. It was the greatest gift I could have received and pass along to my family.
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