TREASURE HUNT©

My husband Tom and I always treated our sons to a treasure hunt on Christmas morning so they would truly be surprised by gifts that were impossible to disguise with wrapping paper.  One year they found a computer at the end of the hunt; another year they found bowling balls.  It was a game that brought all of us a great deal of pleasure.

On my birthday this year, I came home from work to find a note pinned to the front door; it read:  "Dear birthday girl, go back into the garage and see if there's anything of interest to you in the tool box.  Love, Tom."

I returned to the garage and eagerly opened the tool box to find another note:  "It's a day off from cooking for you, but you still might want to check out the cookware under the oven to make sure it's in good shape."  Hmmm, good shape?

I went into the kitchen, straight to the oven, and opened the drawer beneath it.  Inside it was the cookware just like I'd been coveting at my sister's house for months.  What a terrific birthday gift!  But, no, there was another note there:  "Don't stop here.  I know you're dying to get those heels off and get into something comfy for your special birthday evening."

Off to the bedroom I went, and there I found a beautifully set table with flowers and the good china.  On the bed was a pretty little summery dress that I could slip on and be comfortable in yet look good at the same time!  Boy, does that husband of mine have great taste!

I picked up the dress and another note fell out:  "Put on your new dress, pour yourself a glass of wine, and I'll be home in a few minutes."

I changed into my dress, sat down at the pretty table, and poured myself a glass of wine from the bottle in the ice bucket that had miraculously appeared while I was in the closet.  Suddenly soft music began playing and Jim appeared in the doorway with a satisfied grin on his face.  "Are you enjoying this so far honey?"  he asked.

"Of course, I am!  I love my gifts!"  I told him.

"Well, here's another direction for your treasure hunt",  he said as he handed me one last note:  "Go into the closet and look in the pocket." 

"What pocket?" I thought.  But I went in and began feeling around in every suit, jacket, and coat pocket I could find.  I hit the jackpot when I stuck my hand in the pocket of my winter coat.  Something long and narrow and bumpy -- felt like a bracelet of some sort.  I savored the moment as I tried to figure out exactly what it was, then pulled out a breathtaking diamond bracelet!  I can't even begin to say how surprised I was -- it was the last thing on earth I would have expected!

As I turned to hug Tom and tell him thank you he said, "Happy birthday honey!  You're very special to me, and I wanted to show you that in a special way."

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