She invited me in while she opened it, and as they say, ‘The rest is history.’ We got married a year later. Then she said, ‘It’s Christmas Eve, so I guess I should open the package.’
“Inside the wrapped box was a wooden paddle a little over a foot long. “Yes, it is,” answered almost everyone in unison. “‘When I was a little girl, Daddy would take my letters to the backyard and very carefully burn them in our big brick barbeque grill as I watched. I’ve already told them that I’m putting the house on the market in the Spring and moving into a small apartment. “OK,” I answered. She invited me in while she opened it, and as they say, ‘The rest is history.’ We got married a year later. The only thing I could figure is that when she knew her time was getting close, she threw it away or something so you kids wouldn’t find it.”
“Santa took it back,” said little Molly.
