Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is fun to watch the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and see all of the balloons and floats that have been an annual presence since I was a kid. It is also fun to see what is "new", particularly all of the singing acts that are the latest teen sensations.  It is amazing to me that this parade I watched as a child is still going strong, and I am now watching it with my own children. Of course, an incredible meal, a day of football and a walk in the crisp, cool air round out a perfect Thanksgiving day.

This year, I had the great fortune of visiting Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, MA, with my daughter's class field trip. It was wonderful to go "back-in-time" and stroll through this living history museum to experience life as it was when the Pilgrims first arrived. My daughter and I liked the Wampanoag settlement the best.

I am thankful to have a wonderful circle of family and friends. I am also thankful for a business that has been successful, even during difficult economic times. The best part of this business for me is hearing from our regular customers year after year. It adds a higher level of personal connection that can sometimes be lost with an online business. I am thankful for everyone who has taken the time to call me or email me to share their excitement about the gift they just ordered - those make my day.

Happy Thanksgiving, and warm holiday wishes to everyone!

Thank You, Veterans

For years, I have been talking about how the best gifts are the ones that have meaning to the recipient. After all, that is the driving force behind The Surprise Inside. However, few gifts can compare to the gift we are given every single day - freedom. It is particularly amazing when you consider that we are given this gift in large part by people we don't know, who are making the conscious decision every day to risk their lives to ensure the freedom of strangers.  My father was a Navy veteran. My grandfather served in World War I and was badly wounded.  My father-in-law is an Army veteran. They, along with thousands of other people who have served our country, were willing to risk their lives, whether they saw active battle or not, to ensure the freedom we enjoy today. What an incredible gift.

My hope on this Veteran's Day is that people stop for a moment to remember and thank the brave men and women who have given us the gift of freedom, a gift that came with a very high price for far too many, and one that is too easy to take for granted.

In recognition of Veteran's Day, and in honor of all of the men and women who have devoted their lives to protecting our freedom, THANK YOU.

Simple Gifts

Not all gifts cost money. Sometimes the most meaningful, lasting gifts are a note, a phone call or even an email. My favorite is the hand-written note, because in addition to conveying a sentiment, the handwriting itself makes a personal connection with the writer.  I have kept many of the notes written to me by my parents during my life, and now that they are gone, I love to take them out on occasion and re-read them, and look at their handwriting, which was unique and individual to each of them.

I recently read an article about Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, the "hero" pilot who safely landed a plane in the Hudson River in New York.  In the article, his wife mentioned the mountain of mail they have received from around the world, and how they are taking the time to read each one as a family. One letter came from overseas, and was simply addressed to "Hero Pilot" with a note to the postmaster that the address was unknown. The letter made it to the Sullenbergers.  There were so many resulting gifts in this one simple letter: 1) Someone overseas took the time to write a letter of thanks and hope to the Sullenbergers, which truly inspired them;  2) Someone at the USPS took the time to forward the address-less letter on to the Sullenbergers; 3) The Sullenbergers shared this story with the reporter as an example of the kindness of strangers.

We are headed into a season where it is easy to become bombarded by commercialism and the pressure to spend money on gifts. Take the time to handwrite a gift card to even just one person on your gift list, or send a note to someone in your life and tell them how much they mean to you. Take the time to say a warm thank you to someone such as the school custodian or the crossing guard, who may not hear it often enough. The best gifts come from the heart.