Thank You To My Secret Santa

Sometimes, amidst all the difficult distractions that life throws your way, lovely things happen that make your heart swell.

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As a result of my Achilles tendon debacle, I missed the last week of school before the winter break.

I also missed our faculty Secret Santa. Of course, I was prepared with my gift for my recipient, but I wouldn’t be able to deliver until after the New Year. I let my giftee know that they’d be receiving it (not in secret) when I returned. I also texted the person running it to let her know that I was the one who hadn’t given a gift yet.

When she texted me back, she revealed that she, in fact, was my Secret Santa. I laughed. She was a long-time colleague that I’d always admired. Sadly, I’ve never been able to work closely with her since we were in different departments. But, it made me smile to know that she was my Secret Santa. I told her the gift could wait until after the New Year. It would be the holiday that kept on giving.

Returning to work

My first day back to was the first Friday in January. Of course, my sole focus was figuring out how to manage my existence as a dance and PE teacher. I had the walking boot, crutches, knee scooter and I’d be largely teaching from a chair. I had completely forgotten about any Secret Santa happenings.

For the last period of the day, I co-teach a physical education class. My PE peeps made sure I was sitting and resting while the kids did their work. Halfway through the period, a few of my former dance students came into the gym with a gift bag. It was my Secret Santa gift. I smiled, since I knew who it was from, and eagerly opened it.

I had no idea how taken aback I would be when I did.

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That quote is not just another heartwarming phrase. It has much more meaning to me.

The book is a personal memoir; a love letter to my mom. She died in 2020 after an almost four-year battle against peritoneal cancer. I wrote this blog post a year after she passed. That was the day the book was published.

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I texted her, ” How did you know how meaningful that phrase is to me?”

She replied, “I read your book ❤️”

I sat there for a moment, stunned. I had really put the book in the past. Not only had my friend read it, but she was so thoughtful in connecting her gift to the book. That really touched my heart in a big way.

I’m still reeling from this kindness. Every time I pass it in my entryway, I’ll be thinking about it.

So to my dear friend, my Secret Santa, know that I cherish your gift wholeheartedly. You made me smile as I’m navigating a tough time in my life. You also reminded me that the book is out there, reaching other’s hearts when they need to see it.

Thank you, dear friend, from every part of me.