The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
OK, so I went to get my mom on her birthday 5 days ago and told her we were going to take her somewhere. I had already decided to take her to bath and body works (I had a great coupon too LOL) to get her some smelly goodies. I let her smell all the stuff and decided I'd pick up a few things (not telling her they were for her) and put them in the bag and pick up another thing or two. It was great and I picked out some deals (more for the money) and some good smelling lotions and bath gels she really liked and she thought the whole time it was for me (I love that). When we paid, we left the mall and went to the parking deck and I handed the bag to my mom and said "happy birthday". I'll never forget her face, she was in pure shock. She's not used to getting stuff, hardly anything really, so her getting all that stuff for her birthday was a huge surprise. Especially since she knew how much I spent. I had a coupon for 15.00 off 50.00, well I used that and got a buy one get one free item too and still spent 56.00. She loved all of it!! She was so floored and surprised. She said if she knew it was for her then she'd have said it all stunk and not bought anything and I told her that I knew that and that was the reason I didn't tell her it was for her. She cleans houses for a living and has really dry, cracked, and rough hands, but after we left she was just raving at how soft her hands were. I told her that any time I'm able to do something like that for her, I'll do it. She told me that I didn't need to do stuff like that, that just coming to see her was enough and I told her it was her birthday. We went to walmart and had to get some stuff for ourselves and she picked up a pack of socks and some tylenol pm. I got her some cute booties and two long sleeve shirts that were on sale too, but she tried to resist getting anything, but I think she knew I was going to get them anyway LOL!! When we got back to her house she told everybody to come and smell all the stuff she had gotten, she was so happy. She said she was going to take another bath that night just so she could use some of the stuff she got LOL. It was a very good night. It inspired me to come home and go through my MASSIVE bath and body works supply and find some stuff she'd like, after all the semi annual sale comes up in January, I need to make room :) LOL!! Okay, I'm rattling on now, but it was just a good day and its been a long time since I've seen her that happy.
Unfortunately, though, my sister, her husband and two kids are now living with them, but that's another post.....
How exciting is that ... what a blessing it is when we can do things to make others feel good! Thank you for inspiring me to visit my mom ... I don't do that nearly as often as I should. Your message has been contagious :)
Especially since she knew how much I spent. I had a coupon for 15.00 off 50.00, well I used that and got a buy one get one free item too and still spent 56.00. She loved all of it!! She was so floored and surprised. She said if she knew it was for her then she'd have said it all stunk and not bought anything and I told her that I knew that and that was the reason I didn't tell her it was for her. She cleans houses for a living and has really dry, cracked, and rough hands, but after we left she was just raving at how soft her hands were. I told her that any time I'm able to do something like that for her, I'll do it. She told me that I didn't need to do stuff like that, that just coming to see her was enough and I told her it was her birthday. We went to walmart and had to get some stuff for ourselves and she picked up a pack of socks and some tylenol pm. I got her some cute booties and two long sleeve shirts that were on sale too, but she tried to resist getting anything, but I think she knew I was going to get them anyway LOL!! When we got back to her house she told everybody to come and smell all the stuff she had gotten, she was so happy. She said she was going to take another bath that night just so she could use some of the stuff she got LOL. It was a very good night. It inspired me to come home and go through my MASSIVE bath and body works supply and find some stuff she'd like, after all the semi annual sale comes up in January, I need to make room :) LOL!! Okay, I'm rattling on now, but it was just a good day and its been a long time since I've seen her that happy. 
