How the Grinch Enjoyed Christmas

After losing my husband to cancer in January 2009, I decided that Christmas was going to bring back his sense of humor and a little Christmas spirit into our family. Little did I know how this was to unfold. I am positive that Bob (my husband) had a lot to do with how all of this happened.

About a week or so before Christmas, I was in Foodtown and was asking the girls if there was anything in the stockings that were hanging over the checkout lanes. They said no, so when I saw Paul, the manager, I asked him why and he went into a long list of why's and why not's and proceeded to tell me all of the things that were wrong with Christmas. My answer to him was that he was the Grinch that stole Christmas! Then I told him that I was going to find him a shirt that said just that. His reply was, "you find one and I'll wear it!"

I left wondering where I was going to find this shirt so close to Christmas. A few days later I was looking through my Christmas decorations and at the bottom of the tote, there was a bright red t-shirt. When I took it out, there was the Grinch and underneath his face it said "Mean and Green Grinch." Perfect. Over the years my husband had a great sense of humor and loved pulling pranks on the kids. They really all developed his sense of humor, and would buy him t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks, and, yes, boxers with some logo or silly saying, which he would proudly wear. Last year was no exception; our oldest daughter, Brenna, came through with the Grinch. This shirt he never got to wear.

I wrapped the shirt in red tissue paper and put it in a Christmas bag. The next morning, before I went to work, I went over to Foodtown looking for Paul. Everyone there actually knew of our previous conversation, so when I saw him I gave him a kiss on the cheek, wished him a Merry Christmas, and handed him the bag. He was hesitant to look in the bag as all eyes were upon him, but when he removed the shirt, a huge smile came across his face, as he told me that this was the best present he had received in years! Then he told me he would wear it on Christmas day.

That day, I donned one of Bob's other shirts, with a picture of Santa on it. My daughter Brenna and I walked over to Foodtown, camera in hand, to find Paul. There he was, with his Grinch shirt and a huge smile on his face. He allowed us to take this picture. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to bring my husband's spirit back into Christmas through him.

About a week later I asked Paul if I could share this story with the PCN&R readers and he agreed.

When I left Foodtown that day, I knew that my husband had a lot to do with this wonderful turn of events, and my kids said that I finally developed a sense of humor!