Chapter 113

By 10 all the family had arrived and we had crowded into the living room. Marcy's new truck had been quietly moved into the 4 car garage. There had been a big discussion on how to have her find the keys. I had to laugh at all the ideas that were floated around about it. They finally settled on small box packed inside multiple boxes. The keys were in a 2 inch box that had been boxed in so many boxes that it ended up in a 4 foot square box. The girls had each taking a turn in the boxing and wrapping events. It would be the last present opened. We had the video camera out for that one. I was going to be the photographer for the group.

We started with the mom's first. There were new jewelry, perfumes, and some clothes including some heavy-duty winter clothes. I had an idea that the cabin purchase may be a nearly done thing and the dads wanted the moms to spend some time there with them.

Jeanna received clothes, perfume, and some local hand made jewelry and knickknacks.

The dads opened long boxes that had new rifles with very high power scopes. I knew that Jamie had some input into the selection of those because that is where I sent the moms when they came to me for advice. They were large caliber guns designed for bear, elk and moose. They were so nice, I was envious. They both got hunting clothes and foul-weather boots. They even got battery heated long johns. Jason had given my dad a new set of very expensive golf clubs. I guess Dad had finally made the turn at his golf game. You can teach old dog new tricks.

Carl opened a box to find a new navy attaché case. We girls had gone together to get him an engraved pen, pencil and letter opener set. Wendy and us girls had a box of gag gifts we had put together give him but we were going to wait until after everyone had opened their gifts before we gave it to him.

In fact we had gag gifts for each other. We had all been shopping at the big adult store at Glen Bernie.

We gave Misty, Sarah and Belinda each boots and clothes they could wear at the college and a sizable gift card that they could use at the J. C. Penney's store in Ctown not far from the College.

Wendy received some new clothes and several new thong swim suits, some tennis shoes and leather moccasins.

Joey we gave a nice gift card that she could use any where. We assumed that there were some clothes that she would like to have that she could not buy with Mom around. I also gave her a gift membership to Jamie's gun safety and training course. With Jason having been a MSP officer and a county detective after retired from the state and then bitten with the hunting bug there would always be guns around. She should know how to use them, when they were safe and how to make them safe.

Patti we gave things for her car, a necklace, and some winter boots.

We took turns passing out each others gifts until they had all been passed out and opened.

Next came the gag gifts, Carl was going to be the first victim. We had all boxed wrapped them separately and then put them in one box. After he opened the big box Wendy was going to hand him the smaller packages but there were no names of who they were from. Wendy knew and had a little remark she was going to say.