Gifts from Alaska

Gifts From Alaska

Many of my students and friends have been praying for my uncle Chris, who was hospitalized in Tucson in early February and passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.  My uncle's many friends and family have been posting tributes to him on my aunt Tam's Facebook page in the form of stories, memories and pictures.  I shared this story with my aunt Tam yesterday:

My uncle Chris Fondell was a generous gift-giver. About three years ago, I confessed to him a childhood secret that my sister Melissa King and I had kept for many years.
Chris was Melissa's godfather, so every year about a week before Christmas, a special brown package would arrive for her. My godparents, my aunt Bonnie and uncle Mike, always sent a special package for me then too. Since both of our godparents lived in Sitka, Alaska, the gifts were always very special and unique. Melissa and I were allowed to unwrap the brown paper packaging from the boxes that arrived, but the gift-wrapped presents inside always had to be put under the tree until Christmas morning. The suspense was simply too much for two curious little girls to handle. After dark, Melissa and I would sneak those special gifts to our room, and together we would carefully slit the tape with a scissors and unwrap them. One year I received a beautiful Alaskan Eskimo doll with a tiny papoose wrapped and hidden in her brown suede cloak. Melissa often received jewelry since her godfather owned a jewelry store. After a few moments of quiet rejoicing, we would painstakingly re-tape the gifts and place them back under the tree. What fun it was to open them again on Christmas morning with our parents watching (and to share a wink and a secret with my sister) as we feigned surprise! Many years later as adults, we told our parents and godparents the story about our sneaky gift-opening. I remember my uncle Chris laughing his hysterical, gorgeous, infectious Fondell laugh. Yes, my uncle Chris was a generous gift-giver. Even more than the beautiful gold ear pins and hand-blown glass bowl he gave me, I will forever treasure the gift of his laughter.

Do you have a childhood memory that could be transformed into a tribute for someone you love?