CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The moral of the story

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.”

-- David Viscott

Jon and I love our daughters, and we love being with them. Since they

are both in college, we cherish any time we all spend together.

Many of you know that our daughter, Kelly, has been studying and

working in Argentina for five months. She was due to come home this week,

and we were all counting the days until she arrived.

Kelly called me about a month ago and said: “Mom, what do you think

about me coming home eight days early and surprising Dad by being home on

his birthday?”

“I can’t think of anything better,” I answered.

She said, “I’ll find out if it’s even possible to change my plane

tickets. It may be too late. I’ll call back tomorrow.”

When Kelly called back, Jon answered. She gave him a message in code

to let me know she made the switch. That’s when the planning began.

That’s also when the truth-stretching began.

I already knew I wanted to have a little surprise birthday celebration

for Jon and then decided to double the surprise by having Kelly show up

at the party.

I purposely avoided asking Jon what he wanted for his birthday,

because I knew he would say that he wanted to have Kelly home. Soon I

purposely avoided talking to him about Kelly much at all.

I found that -- as the days went by, my excitement grew and the plans

came together -- I kept slipping up by saying something that almost gave

the secret away. I stretched the truth so many times, I was sure

something was about to snap.

I knew I couldn’t have the party at home, so I chose a nearby park.

On the morning of his birthday, as soon as Jon and our second

daughter, Amy, left for a bike ride, I sprang into action and headed to

the airport.

My family and friends helped with food and decorations.

I brought Kelly home safely, but she barely escaped being spotted by

Jon when he drove on one side of the street -- just as she was walking

down the other to hide out at a friend’s house until time to make her

appearance.

When the moment came I told Jon we were picking up friends for dinner.

I said that if they weren’t at home, we were to get them at the park.

As we walked to the picnic benches, everybody yelled, “Surprise!”

We stood in a circle and held hands to say grace before dinner.

When our eyes were closed and our heads were bowed I said, “Thank you,

God, for Jon and how special he is to all of us. I know he is missing

Kelly and I read that it is only 41 degrees in Argentina. Please be with

Kelly too.”

At that moment Kelly stepped in between us and took our hands. Jon

opened his eyes, and then for the next few minutes he and Kelly hugged,

laughed and hugged some more.

It made all the work and worthwhile.

I know I’m not the first to use these words this way, but it fits this

situation perfectly. Sometimes the best presents we can give someone is

the gift of our presence.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.