Thank You, Mystery Giver

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Thank you, Christopher! Well, it's quite exciting, but also frustrating not to be able to thank the person properly!

You too, have a great Christmas. I'm to go to Christmas dinner at the Melrose Hotel with my stepson and his wife. A little different plan but sounds quite lovely. The Melrose is a kind of landmark and noted for its great food, too.

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Oh, DRBJ - You make me blush. Thank you, dear lady!

This secret admirer thing both amazes me and brings awareness of a lovely possibility that any one of us may have one or more mystery admirers or appreciators, whether or not they make their presence known with presents. :-) It also makes me aware of the preciousness of everyone I know who could be that kind and generous person! I wonder if this person realizes how far-reaching the kindness is!

I'm reminded of a custom at one of my colleges. The week before Christmas vacation, we drew names in the dorm so we could secretly do something for that person each day. It was called 'Peanut Week' and the person whose name we drew was our "Peanut". We weren't to just buy gifts, we could use our imaginations: - polish her shoes, clean her room, leave her a little hand-made gift, - whatever we could think of that would please her, the more spontaneous, the better. Part of the fun of it.

Of course she usually left the secret giver a lovely thank-you note, as well. One of the things I remember doing for my Peanut was decorating her desk with a large poinsettia I made out of heavy red and green paper for its petals and sepals, painting some features on them, and piling its center with lemon drops to represent the flower's stamen and pistils. I had so much fun doing it and my peanut was delighted. Her note lifted my spirits for the entire week. She called me a 'creative genius'. What better present for a shy 16 year old than that! It inspired me to express myself more often! - haha!

That whole week had a sort of magic aura about it as we wondered who the sweet secret givers could be and realized it could be any one of our dorm mates! I miss that kind of Christmas magic. Now some lovely, considerate person has restored my sense of the magic! Just amazing.

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Dear Dave -- what a joy to see you!

As I said to DRBJ above - an appreciative person needn't send a gift to be a treasured friend and even an admirer. One wonders who's the most benefitted, the sender or the receiver!

Thank you for your kind compliment. I send my love to your precious family, too, at this special season - and all seasons. Hugs.

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Isn't it, Flora! Such fun! I had to think of some way to thank the person and came up with this thank you. If it was not someone on HP, the only other idea I had was skywriting one, maybe at the North Pole! :-) Thank you for coming by and enjoying it.

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Oh, my, Dolores! I read that first sentence and took a huge in-breath and said "Aha!" Then I read the next one. haha. Well, so my lovely surprise is still a rather perplexing (but nice) puzzle.

Your experience with leaving the arrangements on a neighbor's porch sounds such fun. But, yeah - that could present misconceptions, I guess. hehe.

Mine came in a florist's mailing box, with the vase carefully packed in the box and instructions on how to handle the flowers included. Tulips are thirsty blossoms with rather flimsy stems, so I was instructed to leave them in their cellophane wrapper in water with some of the included flower food for a number of hours to drink before placing them in new water with more flower food as an arrangement. They're still on my coffee table but in the meantime, I've had to shorten the stems quite a bit. The fir greenery provides some height still. But I'm afraid they may not make it much longer. But what a joy they've been!

For years I kept fresh flowers on that table but last New Year's I switched to several live plants. They've been a pleasure too, besides providing oxygen when the house is closed up.

Thanks so much for the fun comment and the brief hope that the mystery had been solved! :-)

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Yep, Dolores -I've thought about that! And spreading it around, too, since my gratitude pours out to everyone because of it - any one of whom could have done it! hehe

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Hello, hello - thank you, sweetie! I do appreciate it! Hope your Christmas is deeply satisfying, too! Hugs. And may 2012 be wonderful for all of us!

Nellieanna Hub Author 5 months ago

Erin, you know what's the funniest part of it? I keep up with one of my very first online friends/admirers. We've been in touch since 1998 and over the years, have exchanged a lot of discussion and several little gifts. He's sent me a mini-art kit to take with me wherever I might want to sketch, he sent George some Navy memorabilia, since they each had Navy service. Last Valentine's he sent me flowers with a vase, little box of chocolates & a little teddybear with an unsigned card which just said "just because you're awesome!" Lately we've been out of touch, but that's not unusual. We're both very busy people, so it's one of those things in which, whenever we do make contact again, it's like no time has passed. We've never met in person but he's one of my special friends in my life.

Well, these Christmas flowers came from an online florist based where he lives (the same one as supplied the Valentine's flowers). It was so like something he'd do & even without signing the card. So I called him to thank him - but he didn't send them!!! He must have felt sort of put-on-the-spot and I felt quite presumptuous. He's even checked with the florist to be sure they hadn't set up a repetitive order (which I doubted would include the message!) He's double-checked on it and asked several times if I've resolved the mystery, so I'm sure it wasn't his doing. And he wouldn't deny it if it were.

Is that wild or what? It certainly cured me of asking people if they'd sent it, except for my younger step-son in Colorado. Any other family members definitely would have signed it. But it wasn't Michael either. But it's certainly intensified my curiosity and desire to thank the person! Plus it's brought a whole new dimension to the season for me. Rather wonderful! :-)

Thank you, dear Erin and I wish you a big Merry Christmas and blessed New Year!

I made this for Ian and Mike on another hub comment thread and though it was made just for them, I don't think they'll mind if I include you in my big ole Texas hug and grin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJnlQSYIyr0

Nellieanna Hub Author 4 months ago

Well, the mystery is solved. It was from my daughter! Never would I expect her to send a gift anonymously. She's sent me flowers before but very definitely signed! Seems the florist goofed! So - sigh - no secret admirer. But I am bowled over by such a lovely gift from my daughter! And the effects of not knowing meant that I have felt so grateful to everyone! That has extra bonus value and now I knoiw that my own Dyane did it! I found out when I called Christmas Ever (in Bloomington, Ind.) to wish them all Merry Christmas and she asked if I received the flowers! haha. And meantime, I've fantasized about secret admirers. tee hee.

Thanks for the sweet comment!! And - wrong - I can well imagine guys being your secret admirers, Femme!!! :-)

Happy New Year to you!!

Nellieanna Hub Author 4 months ago

Oh, Flora - that's so! She must have thought me a very ungrateful Mother! haha. Fortunately we have a kind of timeless connection, though. I just hope she didn't explain my oversight by old age infirmity! haha Thanks for the visit!

Nellieanna Hub Author 4 months ago

That was a classy daughter-gift, for sure, Femme! My baby daughter will be 55 in April - and has 5 daughters and several grandchildren of her own! :-) She knows I love tulips. I should have suspected. The whole thing was so mysterious, though. I even thought of one of my stepsons! He would belikely not to sign the card. He usually doesn't sign his emails.

Actually, since I first called my long-term friend, thinking he'd sent them, I've been enjoying renewed pleasantries with him. We've become good friends and have flirted off and on for going-on 14 years but have never met in person. He's starting to catch up with me in years and to narrow the difference in them. ;-) tee hee.

Thank you for your comments! Fun!

Nellieanna Hub Author 4 months ago

Aren't you a sweetie to be concerned about me!! Hugs . . .

Nellieanna Hub Author 4 months ago

Ken! What a delight to see you here! And with such complimentary words. (blush) You've certainly cheered up my day! It was a most enjoyable incident, and the truth was great too! My sweet Dyane sent the flowers.

Yes, those flowers were just exquisite! They made the room so pleasant for days!

Thank you, my dear friend, for the lovely comments and visit! Hugs!