Good Type of Tired
Woman in the Middle | December 17, 2015Thirty-eight years ago, my dad, who was president of the Lions Club at the time, convinced the group they should so some sort of community outreach and have a Christmas party for kids. It went really well and the following year they moved the party to a local country club. That was the year I dressed up like an elf and my mother busily planned crafts for the kids.
My dad soon took ill and passed away, but the party went on. Somehow, it has become a party for up to 1000 underprivileged school children, selected by their teachers at the local school district. After I got married and had my own children I often contributed toys and such for the party, and the girsland I would go and help wrap packages, but I was otherwise not involved.
When one of the big movers and shakers on the board that puts on this party passed away unexpectedly, I decided it was time I stepped up and became a fully participating member of the party board. Last year I did a little bit, this year I am doing more.
I have got to tell you, this event is planned to a “T.” It has to be if you are dealing with that many kids. I have not added any planning expertise to the whole situation. I am just adding labor. Last night was my first “stay all night at the present wrapping” night. Whew, I was one tired puppy after that!
I volunteered to be in charge of the stocking stuffing. So, while most folks were wrapping the hundreds of gifts, I was setting up the stocking stuffing line, ready for volunteers today. Did you know that 1000 tubes of toothpaste take up a lot of boxes? So do 1000 little packages of cookies! But I managed to wrestle everything into place. Then I wrapped 12 gifts and then it was time to count the wrapped gifts to see what was left that needed to be wrapped tonight.
Bending, packing, counting….until we discovered two bits of good news. One, about 80% of the gifts were wrapped. And, even better, it appeared that we had plenty of toys and will not have to go on any last-minute shopping sprees.
I staggered on home after that, watched a little TV, and then collapsed into bed, the Aleeve coursing through my veins taking care of any pain associated with all that hefting, toting, bending and packing. Today, at two, the volunteers descend on the stocking stuffing line so we can get that done. Hopefully, it will go like clockwork. If not, well, I will get the chance to do it again next year.
The big party is on Saturday. I expect to feel tired from now until Sunday morning. This must be how Santa’s elves feel on Christmas day. Exhausted. But it is a good kind of exhaustion.
You better believe that if I didn’t already have a prior commitment, I would definitely be there to help stuff stockings.
Not a problem, I completely understand! We ended up with eight people so we got done in about 2 2 1/2 hours. The problem was, being in charge, I was still hefting and toting, keeping things filled on the line. I will probably sleep well tonight!
Bending, packing, counting, toting; sounds like my job!
You’re right, it’s a good kind of tired. This is what Christmas is all about!
Sounds like a wonderful event. Your Dad would be so pleased that it continued.