The "Gift" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just gave our son-in-law his Christmas gift. I suspect he knew what he was getting. Every year we give him something that I have made and framed or just bought and framed at the gallery where I work. He has framed stadiums from Penn State, Notre Dame and the Washington Redskins. He has inspirational posters about coaching and playing football. I even bought a few old ticket stubs from when the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series and framed them for him. Got a piece of the floor from the old Maryland University field house and framed that. And in 2007, when his Quince Orchard High School football team, which he is the head coach of, won the Maryland 4A State Championship I made a 32" x 40" framed tribute that had stories about him and his dad who helps him coach as well as his record, team photo and game photos with a story about the final game. Pretty neat if I may say so. So when his team lost 36-35 on a two-point conversion in overtime in this year's championship game, he knew something was in the works. Especially since I kept calling my daughter and asking her to ask her husband about this team and that player and where I can get a team photo, etc. Well the 32" x 40" tribute this year contains stories about their run through the playoffs with photos from each game as well as a team photo and a story about him and the major award he won this year. Across the top of the tribute declared he was Runners-Up in the 4A Finals and across the bottom the saying that graces the Quince Orchard web-site; We play for those who came before - We set the standard for those who follow. I worked hours typing the stories, gathering the photos and planning the size. Then another hour or more laying it out on the computer at the Gallery where I made it and then watching as the mat cutter cut all the openings and words. Did it in black with a red accent mat which are the colors for Quince Orchard High School. Took it home three days before Christmas and showed it to my wife. She said "Wow" and starting reading all the stories and headlines. Then ....... she looked at me and smiled. "Oh No!!" I said when I saw her face. "What did I do wrong?" She softly said, "It's the saying at the bottom." Whew, I was relieved for a moment. "I couldn't get the one "We" on the last line, but it still means and sounds the same without it," I told her. "I saw that, but that's not it," she said as I could see the sympathy in her eyes. "You spelled "THOSE" on the bottom line wrong." I spelled it "TOSE". "Holy S*#t!" was my response. ALL THAT WORK! "Do you think they will notice or do you think that is the way they talk in Maryland?" I asked her, fully knowing the answer. "Maybe not," she replied. I knew she didn't mean that. I grabbed the frame, gave her a kiss and out the door I went. "I'll be back in an hour or two," I yelled to her as I closed the door. Well it does look better with the word spelled correctly and our son-in-law Dave loved it, as usual. Asked where I got all the stories from and I told him I wrote them myself from articles in several newspapers and adding my own touch. Hey I'm an author, you know. He looked at me, impressed. Now all he has to do is find a place to hang it. Could be harder to do than it was to make it. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - I have included the mat for you to see, but I know you can't read it or see the photos too well since it is so small and you can't make it any larger. Sorry for that! Please read my story tomorrow and you'll see about the one special story I included in the tribute.