Well y'all, here's one for the record books!

I have a friend in A'stan, and he is fortunate enough to live in some sort of little "house" with 7 other guys.  I had gotten a 6 foot tree and all the lights/decorations/etc after Christmas last year at the 75% off sale, and so I thought since they did have such "spacious" conditions, they might could use it.  I asked, they excitedly said "YES" and I got it all packed up.  (for future reference, I got a "lamp box" at the u-haul store for about $5.00--everything fit perfectly and postage was about $35.00)

I sent it mid-Nov, so they could have a huge decorating party the day after Thanksgiving.  In addition to all the trimmings for the tree, I had hot chocolate, marshmallows, christmas cookies, christmas music, santa hats...whole nine yards!  I think the fun I was IMAGINING them having putting up the tree was far above anything realistic!  I had wrapped each box of goodies and decorations individually.  The only thing NOT wrapped was the tree!

Well, Thanksgiving comes and goes...Nick and I exchange emails...he does not mention the tree!  I finally broke down yesterday and asked him if he ever got it put up!  He emailed back and said that they did and "I guess it turned out okay".  Well, I was a little bit taken aback by that, gotta tell you!  I was really expecting just a tad more excitement, you know??  He said "I'll send you a picture" and he did.  WELL..my first thought was "bless their hearts, they don't even know how to put up a tree!" but then I enlarged the picture.  There was no topper, there were no lights, no tree skirt...just some ornaments that DID NOT look familiar!  I went back and read his email and he had made the comment that they had one of the guys mom's send some ornaments!  HUH?????   I looked at the picture again, and there, sitting sweetly UNDER THE TREE were all the wrapped decorations and stuff I had sent!!

On one of the boxes I had put "OPEN ME FIRST" and in it was the note that said to go ahead and open everything else, and the Santa hats and Christmas music...That adorable young man thought I meant to open that one first ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so I just did BOTH (a little heavy on the crying though I have to admit!)  They had to have thought I was the BIGGEST IDIOT in the world to send a whole tree WITH NO DECORATIONS, plus, the great decorating party I had envisioned for them never happened!  I'm just thankful he sent the picture and I noticed the presents today--before Christmas morning!  can you imagine the guys opening "gifts" and finding a goofy box of ORNAMENTS that they needed a month before??  talk about a moral buster!!  UGH!!

Lesson learned here, surprises are wonderful, as long as they have CLEAR AND CONCISE INSTRUCTIONS!  LOL

I should have said "OPEN THIS NOW" rather than "open this FIRST"

They are going to open everything tomorrow...salvage what they can and pass on the excess decorations to another group that needs them, so it's still all good, right??

It's just that this was the first time I'd ever done anything like this, and I was so overly excited about it, the dissapointment is just, well, overwhelmingly CRAPTACULAR!!!  I can't believe I was such a DOOFUS...

Phillis,

One thing about it is that they will never forget that tree or you.  I hope all of you will laugh about it because it really is funny from a distance.  Since your decorations were designed particularly for that tree, maybe they will just "undecorate" it and start again.  That will give them two days of something pleasant to do rather than one.

Gran

CRAPTACULAR!!  I love it! LOL!

I sent out a few trees, ornaments, lights...tree skirts...my trees were not that big but in order to get them into the boxes, I had to bend the branches against the trunk. I put a note inside telling them that I know it looks like the tree got run over by a truck, but the branches are bendable and to pull them out so they can hang the ornaments on them.... I did put a note on the box flap telling them they should wait til Christmas to open the wrapped gifts...who knows what they'll do...

You're heart was and is in the right place and everyone got a good chuckle.... :)  And I'm sure they were most appreciative of your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Happy Holidays! 

 Oh Phyllis,

I feel your pain!   It is kinda' funny.  I know it is a disappointment for you, but they were just following orders!  Don'r you just love them!?  I love those troops of ours!!!!

Vicki

Phillis,

 Your story is one of many emotions.. As we both know for what ever reason it was played out and happened the way the Lord designed it..  The tree and you will both be something this unit remembers for you out pouring of Love for them during the Holidays while they served a tour away from home. 

It reminds me of a day when I was down and wondered if I could really make much of a difference with just my cards.  The day I felt like shipping out my supplies and slowing down I received a box in the door from a soldier who just opened the door put the box in the door and left.  I happened to open the door as I was getting ready to box up some stuff.  I read his note..

He felt so bad about not connecting with me as I had supportd him on 2 tours and we had never connected.. I did not mind nor expect to connect however he felt bad and said he was so sorry for the late note..

I howerver felt it was the PERFECT DAY for this note..It picked me up on the day I needed to be picked up......  The rest is history and I am still sending cards!!!   That note he thought was late....... came on the PERFECT DAY!!!!  

I'm sure your TREE has many reasons for it playing out the way it did!!  Smile keep the faith. This Tree and you will forever be a tree they hold special!!  

LOVE YA!!!!!   Jackie

What a sweet story! 

It's got Christmas love, memories and smiles written all over it. :)  Sounds like one the Grandkids are gonna here about with warm memories years from now.

Have a Merry one,

Ann

Phillis,

  Don't feel bad!!  Be glad that everything got there and that the misunderstanding was corrected in plenty of time for Christmas!  You did a wonderful thing for your contact and his group, and I know that you are their angel this Christmas! Happy Holidays!!

Hugs from WI--where the wind chill is currently -27!!

You should submit this story to Reader's digest's "humor in uniform" section.  Maybe you could get a cash "prize"!

I agree! This is a great story!!!

thanks y'all! 

The more time passes, the more I find myself laughing about it all.  It's like Gran said, it's funny "from a distance"!

I would like to be able to share this with his mom!

Following orders is Army Training--not DARING to peek at your presents (even when there's no one around to stop you) and being too polite to mention NOT having any decorations, well, that's his MOMMA'S Training!

Aren't they all just WONDERFUL???  

I also have a new plan!  I'm gonna tell him to keep the Santa hats where he can get to them, and we're gonna have CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!  My momma always said "there's more than one way to skin a cat!"

http://www.sno-wonder.com/   Will this stuff not be GREAT in 120 degree weather???

This one brought tears to my eyes!

There's no such thing as a "late package" over there... time is just standing still until you start counting down the last 30 days, so every package is a Christmas package! 

God Bless all of you for what you are doing!

Oh Phyllis... do you mind if I say that this is just fabulous??? {{{hugs}}}  I'm just positive that they are now going to enjoy a wonderful Christmas celebration ***JUST*** when they are needing it most.  I'm certain of it!!!!  I cannot wait to hear what his response is after they've openned up all the goodies and gone to town in their santa hats, decorating and snacking and warming their tummies and hearts with hot cocoa.  You totally rock.    They are going to love it.

Kevin AND Kristen?????

hearing from you two is a present in itself!  We've been missing you guys!!

I'll be sure and let you know when I hear from Nick again---it's like Paul Harvey says, gotta have the "rest of the story" right?

and thanks again, everybody, for all the encouraging words.  You're the GREATEST!!