A Gift From Heaven

I am an avid reader, and in several novels I have read, the main character has received an unexpected gift from a loved one who had passed away.  I always thought it would be so special to receive a gift like that myself.  Well... I can finally say it did indeed happen to me.  An unexpected gift arrived from my Dad who passed away just 2 months ago... and it arrived just when I was deeply feeling his loss, and really needing to feel his presence.

One of my all time favorite authors is Sue Grafton and her alphabet series... A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, C is for Corpse... etc.  I have read every single book in this series and anxiously await for the next novel to be written and hit the market.  My Dad and I both shared a love for Sue Grafton and all her books.

When my Dad passed away a couple months ago, my brother and I had to go through his apartment and all his personal possessions to pack them up, give them away, and choose items we wanted to keep for ourselves.  It was a tedious and emotional experience... we found ourselves feeling every invasive of his personal space... but it was a task that had to be done, and could only be done by my brother and I.  While it does feel very invasive, it also serves as good closure and an end to completely knowing everything possible about one who has passed from your life.

While going through his personal items, we found totes and totes of books he had read, planned on reading, or was in the middle of reading.  I get my love of reading from both my parents.  I came across a couple of Sue Grafton's books that I had not yet read, so of course I took these items to read and to cherish.  As I read these books over the next few weeks, I couldn't help but continually think of my Dad... remembering many happy moments of him sitting or lying in the window seat, reading on cold snowy and rainy days, or of the many books we would chat about after reading them, or the many cookbooks he would send to me for my Birthday and Christmas, and the many books I would send to him on his Birthday, Christmas, and Father's Day.  It was good to enjoy reading Sue Grafton's books, as well as taking this walk down memory lane with my Dad.

The first year of firsts without a loved one is always tough... however, my first first was my Birthday, and my Birthday just happens to be one of those special days I ALWAYS knew I would get to chat with my Dad.  I would receive a very special card with a hand written sweet message inside, and he would always send me a new cookbook.  I had just finished reading the last of the Sue Grafton books I had gotten from his apartment, when my Birthday rolled around.  The day of my Birthday made me really really miss my Dad.

Immediately after my Dad passed away, I was looking online for when Sue Graton's new book (W) would be released.  While searching on Amazon.com for this book, a window popped up about entering a sweepstake to win her new book "W is for Wasted" and be one of the first to obtain a copy of this book before it actually hit the market.  So... of course I entered this sweepstake... then I completely forgot about it and was patiently waiting for this new book to hit the market so I could purchase it and begin reading it.

It just so happens that I indeed won this book!  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!  I was beyond excited to have actually won this new book of Sue Grafton's... but... in my heart I just KNEW that my Dad had had something to do with it.  I'm convinced he sent this book to me from Heaven for my Birthday, and it arrived just when I was missing him the most.  I am currently in the middle of reading and enjoying this new novel... and thinking of my Dad with each page I read, but... I also feel such peace and happiness inside knowing how much my Dad would have also enjoyed reading this new book.

Some may think that this is all just a coincidence... but I truly believe this was a gift from Heaven, sent to me by my Dad to let me know he too misses me, and was indeed thinking of me on my Birthday.  Thank you Daddy for this AWESOME gift, I will cherish it forever, and you made my Birthday the most special of all Birthday's!  I still miss you bunches, but now I KNOW you ARE still with me and will always be watching over me!  LOVE and HUGS, Victoria!