I’ve never been good about thinking inside the box. In fact, sometimes, I can’t even understand how people “in the box” think. It’s been too long, I guess. But one time, many Christmases ago, thinking inside the box turned out to be an unmitigated disaster, but a holiday memory that will last a lifetime.

Christmas was a big deal in our small family. Being together was the highlight of the year, with Grandma Millie baking the turkey and pie, my mom and aunt Gwen making the side dishes and mashing the potatoes, and the men of the family sitting on the couches eagerly awaiting the feast. Afterwards, the kids would clean up the tables and wash the dishes and we would end the gathering with games of cards.

Every year, we got to see and enjoy each other with laughter and love. I don’t recall arguing, bickering or ever a raised voice – outside of the card games, that is. Everyone was there, from my Great Grandfather and Great Uncle, to all of my grandparents, and aunt, uncle and cousins on my mother’s side.

It was wonderful, and I knew I would miss it when I moved out of our little town to go to my first year of college on the other side of the state but I had an “out of the box” idea and I went to work to pull it off.

Two days before Christmas and unannounced, I set forth on the six-hour drive to my hometown with the Plan of the Century…I would ship myself by UPS to my parents house. I knew the hometown driver at UPS and he had the oversized box ready when I arrived.

After packaging me up and loading me on the truck, we headed to my parents home only to learn they were not there! Through the box, I gave the driver directions to my grandparents home and about ten minutes later, I was wheeled into their living room where I sat motionless for four hours while they searched for my mom and dad. Remember…no cell phones at that time!

I was excited to hear them enter the house, but saw my life flash before me as an 8” butcher knife plunged into the top of the box to cut open the tape. It all ended well as we quickly hugged before I rushed to the bathroom before it was too late. Christmas was another blessing that year, but I never again spent any time thinking inside the box!

Merry Christmas!