Oh My Goodness

Santa came a little late to the land of Tea & Cookies this year, or perhaps he was just saving the best for last.

It’s my fault, really. It’s been a rough week and I hadn’t had a chance to catch up with my friend, Mrs. B (you may remember the great guest post she wrote for me earlier this year, or the lovely anthology she edited about learning how to cook around the world). By the weekend she told me they were ready to take their Christmas tree down and my gift was practically the last thing under it. I wasn’t prepared, however, when we did see each other, for her to present me with a simply huge package, nicely wrapped in red snowflake wrapping paper courtesy of Mr. B (otherwise known as Jeff).

“Go ahead, open it,” she said.

I then proceeded to annoy Mrs. and Mr. B by opening it slowly, peeling the tape back so as not to ruin the lovely wrapping paper. “Come on, just rip it open,” she urged me.

But I like to prolong the suspense.

The first side I unwrapped gave me no clue, It was the bottom of the box—plain white with nothing conclusive written on it, just “Temple-Inland, Indianapolis, IN.”

What could this huge present from the Midwest be?

When I finally pulled the wrapping paper back, I sat there stunned. Then I started to cry.

My sweet friend had gone out and bought me the wildly extravagant present I was never going to get for myself—the red KitchenAid mixer that I’ve lusted after.



I’ve longed for this one for nearly a decade, made jokes about it, come close to buying it but always backed away. It has been the indulgence I just couldn’t give myself. Now it has come to me, thanks to the outrageous generosity of a kind friend.

I hardly know what to say—but my mind is already racing with ideas of things to cook in this beauty of a gift, and today I cleaned my kitchen from top to bottom before installing this stunner on the counter (yes, it looks very nice across the kitchen from my racy red pepper grinder).



To Mrs. B—and to Mr. B as well:
Thank you for a gift—and a friendship—that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Your generosity astounds me—today and for the past eight years; my life is richer for you being part of it.

And now, if you ever find yourself in need of baked goods, I’m your girl.



Wow, that's quite a note to end the year on, isn't it?
May we all have amazing friends and great kindness in our lives.