Surprise

Blog 96 …

Birthdays return us back to many nostalgic and wonderful memories of joyful moments, but nothing better appreciated than all those meaningful and cheerful presents received.  One that warmly touches me over and again is a “teacup rest”.  It is a set of homemade box with four tiny hand-sewn pillows filled with cinnamon and mint herbs whose aroma wildly bursts whenever I set down on them between sips my hot cup of tea or coffee.  Michelle Chen, one of my L2 students in the mid-80s, pleasantly surprised me one very special Birth Remembrance Day.  In her then limited English, and still very strong Chinese accent, she radiantly beamed as she stealthily appeared in my classroom.  Not for long, she took out from her worn out cloth satchel a paper bag-wrapped gift that was secured by a beautifully tied red yarn.  I could still hear her soft voice that charmingly coaxed me to open it up quickly.  My heart leaped with overflowing joy at the sight of the teacup rest.  I was also wonderfully touched by her most humble present.  I could not remember other material gifts I received that day, but for many years, and on many birthday remembrances, it was her humblest, and simplest of gifts that from year to year has brought me unbridled joy.  Wherever my charming Michelle Chen is these days, I pray she knows that she made my birthday and me so very, very special!