Every now and then - more often than not, I would hear that familiar knock at my door. When I opened the door, I was not surprised to see the huge box balancing on his shoulder and to hear his booming voice calling out, “care package!”. Then he quickly sat it down on my kitchen table, kissed me and said he had to run.
After he left, I would excitedly look through the box and find things like hamburger, spaghetti, sauce, crackers and cheese, lunch meat and bread, even toilet paper. All of these items were precious when times were tough and money was tight. He usually included some item that wasn't a necessity at all, like ice cream or a box of chocolate chip cookies - something to indulge in and take your mind off your problems for just a little while. Other times there might be an envelope stuck down in the box with a ten or twenty dollar bill.
My Mother was also involved with the “care packages”. She would carefully help select the items to be included in the box. A lot of the items came right from her own cabinets. She especially loved fixing the packages for the grand kids. My Father did too!
When all of the gifts my Father had brought me were put up in their proper places, I would sit at my table and cry. Tears of gratefulness flowed down my face for the love my father had for me. He was this way with all four of his children.
My father has been gone for almost ten years now. The “care package” tradition carries on in my family to this day. When I visit my Mother, she always has a “care package” ready for me. My big brother and I have passed them back and forth almost every time we have seen each other. Today, if a need arose, I am sure a “care package” would be delivered.
As I think back on those days, and of the special packages my Father gave me, it’s the LOVE in those boxes that I miss the most. I truly believe the "care packages" prepared for me all those times are what helped me through many tough times and still give me hope to this very day.
Jo Skierski copyright 2009
I am Jo Skierski and I volunteer as an Angel Mentor for Angels2theHeart. I also have one story published on 2TheHeart - "Hope and Joy". My email address is RatTatPatches@aol.com Contact me anytime!
