Gifts From Readers

...for me, you make EVERY day Christmas.

A Note on Christmas Eve…to say THANK YOU!

I tell other writers that MY readers are THE best.

Not only do you read my attempts at being a storyteller, you engage with me. The exchanges we have in the comments sections always makes my day. If there’s anything I can do to encourage you, help you see something from a bit brighter perspective, or just flat out make you laugh…I will.

Heck, I’ll even let my 5 year old daughter fart on my leg.

…and record it for the world to watch and listen.

Because I love you.

Hmmm. Love…and farts.

Not quite what I meant, but let’s go with it.

There’s something else, though.

Something I didn’t think was a ‘thing’…until one of you encouraged me to just accept it.

Receiving gifts.

Never heard of these? They’re AMAZING! Also, a British thing. One of my readers has given these to me each year for Christmas…and I’m addicted.

‘Gifts’ aren’t always connected to physical things. The kindness of this community is both welcoming and encouraging. When someone is noticed, someone is agreed with, supported, and for me, when someone lets me know if something I missed…that’s HUGE.

I know all too well I’m not perfect or anywhere close to it, but I still desire to be my very best self and to focus on you. This is truly the first time in my professional career that I have been able to let go and just focus on serving, creating, and letting you know how amazing you are at every turn.

But you also have this uncanny talent to make me giggle…

I’m bringing all this up because you’ve been wonderful again.

Yes, again…

My life is so full and so blessed.

I have no complaints.

…and I’m really, REALLY gifted at complaining.

Even the challenges with my health have turned out to reveal more blessings and advantages, because I see more, notice more, value more. This forced slowing has compelled me to look at my life, measure everything, and to from new goals and desires to impact lives in a positive way.

You helped me do that, by reminding me that I am seen.

…and yes, that I am more than I think I am.

(sometimes)

My office smells so good. It’s an imagination factory.

All you have to do is close your eyes and inhale deeply…and the scent which lingers in the air will transport you to Elämä, where you can converse with Wendell, Chuck and Dax. You can visit Clockworks City, explore the hundreds of guilds, or hike into the lush green mountains of the Evolu.

The key to that teleportation magic…is incense.

…and someone sent me a BUTTLOAD of my favorite kind!

Like….POUNDS of the stuff!

It’s the most incense I’ve ever seen min my life. Ever.

Remember these? The cones that produce the heavy smoke…AND the landscape holder you bought me last time?

I got a package last night, which I thought was a shirt we ordered for one of the children. My first thought, was, “That’s a $#@#@! heavy shirt!”

Not a shirt.

Opened the package….and I started laughing.
Hard.

Walked out to the kitchen, where my wife and daughters are wrapping gifts of goodies for others, and showed them the incense package.

Everyone gasped. I continued to laugh….hard.

“Someone loves you,” my wife smiled.

“I think so.”

Thank you.

FYI, I was up for another 5 hours working on gifts for my little ones and I decided to take the cones for a test run.

Ohhhhh baby, they smell AMAZING!!!
…and four at once is way too strong, even for me.

..and JAIME.