A few weeks back I got a Facebook message from a friend and former college classmate who – for the sake of privacy – I’ll call McAwesomepants, asking me for my address so she could send me something. “Sure!” I responded. Who doesn’t love getting stuff in the mail?

And then of course I immediately thought, I’ve never sent McAwesomepants anything in the mail. Never. The only thing I’ve done recently is to remember that one time she brought those totally awesome bacon-wrapped dates to class and then I totally stole that idea for our office Halloween party and everyone loved them. I totally don’t deserve mail from McAwesomepants. I am a terrible friend*.

But I let it slide, tried not to fret over the appropriate level of reciprocation (because that is generally NOT the point of a gift), and didn’t think about it a whole lot more until I opened my mailbox today and there it was: a package from McAwesomepants.

Earrings for me, around which I’m already designing an outfit, and catnip for the cats, who are currently drooling into a small pile of it. She even included a handwritten note.

So thanks, McAwesomepants, for being both generous and thoughtful when I have not always been either. Your gift was the perfect ray of sunshine at the end of a long day, and I’m very grateful for it.

____________________

*I tend to believe that I am never, ever as good to my friends as they are to me and often worry that I don’t express nearly often enough how wonderful they are and how blessed I am to know them…which has led to some really mushy, late-night e-mails and messages. Luckily my friends are cool. Or at least, they’ve never called me sappy straight to my face. But I’m choosing to go with cool.