manrymission.com

Last Saturday, Josiah was invited to attend a birthday party for a girl in his class.  He would not normally consider such an invitation, but it involved a movie ticket to National Treasure II and free pizza.  He and his buddies (mates) agreed they would all go together thereby making it an acceptable occasion.  The difficult part, of course, was the gift buying.  Abby informed Josiah that the girl liked webkins, and that Josiah could purchase one at Hallmark.  Abby loves Hallmark with all its bric-a brac and girly things.  Josiah was a bit apprehensive when we set out.  We arrived at 0855 and the store opened at 0900.  We sat in the car and began to watch our fellow Hallmark shoppers.  They were all men.  It was the Saturday before Christmas and these men were forced to go out and find a gift for their wives.  My brother-in-law Rich was shopping on Saturday, but had to finish up a few purchases on Christmas Eve.  He didn’t want to break with the tradition of buying the gift and wrapping it on Christmas Eve.  This year, Dale was unable to adhere to this Christmas Eve shopping tradition as a result of his distance away and the speed of the Army postal system.  I received my gift weeks in advance.  I will no longer be able to grumble about him always shopping on Christmas Eve.  Anyway, back to Hallmark…One guy was peering intently in the window with the hopes that he could spot something before hand, so that when the clerk opened the door, he could dash in, purchase it, and make a quick get away.  Another guy, who was clearly military, was walking back and forth not directly in front of the Hallmark as if to fool anyone who happened by that he wasn’t actually waiting to go in.  He threw something away in the rubbish bin down the sidewalk, he wandered around on the street in front, and constantly looked over his shoulder in case a friend happened by to accuse him of Hallmark shopping.  The smart guy stayed in his car and made a quick dash for the door when the clerk finally unlocked it.  Josiah and I went in to join our fellow shoppers.  I began to find various things and hold them up for Josiah to see.  I then noticed a glaze come over his eyes and I thought of Dale.  When in a store like Hallmark, Dale will wander around in a daze.  He can not relate to anything in the store and the choosing becomes a torture to him.  I said to Josiah, “You won’t feel comfortable giving any of these gifts will you?”  He replied, “No.”  To his great relief, I let him escape.  So, down the sidewalk we went to the bookstore where he purchased a day to day calendar and a journal.  He brought the gifts home, wrapped them, and even made a funny card.  When I dropped him off in front of the movie theater, he realized to his dismay that only the birthday girl had arrived.  I left him on the curb and drove away laughing as the dazed look came back over his face.  

My Mother, detecting my sadness as Christmas minus Dale approaches, asked me if there was anything she could do.  “Yes,” I said, “send some chocolates.”  There are certain candies that are a unique part of every family’s Christmas.  We grew up recieving the yearly paper sack filled with an apple, orange, peanuts, and hard candy.  Most years, we shared a box of delicious Cane Lakes Sponge Candy.  Each year I most looked forward to a gift from Jean Demos, a friend of my parents who worked for Fannie May candy in Chicago.  She would send us a box of chocolates.  I’ve been to Switzerland and Belgium and eaten at a fancy chocolate shop in Melbourne, but there is something about a box of Fannie May that always makes me smile.  While my Mom was here for Thanksgiving, I was in the grocery store trying to decide between a box of chocolate from Russell Stovers or Whitmans.  My Mom said to get the Russell Stovers.  I replied that she had always bought Whitmans.  She said that was my Father’s favorite not hers.  Her Mother had always eaten Russell Stovers and she liked it better.  It’s only taken her 65 years to admit it.  When the box of Fannie May chocolates arrived, Zeke helped me open it and then ran through the house yelling, “Everyone! Chocolates!”  There was a thunder of feet behind him.  Zeke grabbed the white chocolate covered truffle and liked it so much, he went to take the other.  Gabe happily ate the lemon filled chocoate and Abby, Josiah, and I divided out the caramels.  Dale wasn’t here, so I ate his milk chocolate covered caramel for him.  The traditional Manry candy is Peanut Butter Fudge and I am quite certain that is what my husband is missing most.  His Mama used to pour out the Peanut Butter Fudge on to two buttered plates, one for the kids and one for Dale’s Daddy.  After Dale joined the Army, he came home on leave and discovered that he was now given the honor of a plate of Peanut Butter Fudge to himself.  Boy did Tommy John complain about that injustice.  Now that we are married, our kids combine his love of peanut butter and my love of chocolate every time they eat their pancakes.  Genetics is funny that way.