How sweet! This was my first reaction when my daughter presented me with a small gift: a pretty box with a floral print. I imagined it would be perfect for my earrings, or I’d use it as a change purse, so I’m not digging around for quarters for the parking meter. Seriously, how thoughtful of her to think of me for no particular reason.
The box had something inside, so I unzipped it to investigate. What I found was not what I expected.
It was a pillbox: a convenient, plastic, divided by the days of the week box to hold my medicine.
I didn’t know what to say. Thank you???
I admit that wasn’t what I was thinking at the moment. My first reaction was a flashback to watching my grandfather pull out his pillbox from his pocket along with his dirty tissues. I remember him fishing out his pills multiple times during our visit. The orange box with the black letters representing the days of the week and a separate place underneath for pills he took morning, noon, and night.
Like my gray hair, the pillbox reminded me how quickly I am aging and worse how old I must look to her.
But then, I looked at her expression and could tell she felt terrible. She didn’t mean to offend me (which she didn’t). Her intention came from a kind and thoughtful place. She was looking out for my well being. She thought I would appreciate the gesture.
And I do. Honestly, I could use it. I have blood pressure and cholesterol meds to take as well as a few other pills. My doctor recently informed me I am Vitamin D-deficient, so now I need to add a vitamin to my regimen. Too often, I struggle to remember whether or not I took my morning pills, so this gift would save me the energy it would take to retrace my steps and confirm that I did (or did not) take them. All I would have to do is look in the box and problem solved.
How sweet! Thank you.
Ivy Skeldon
October 3, 2019 at 1:01 am (5 years ago)Quite a touching story. I am sure she thought about it in a practical way. That said, I am going to be careful when giving gifts to my parents now
Elisa Heisman
October 3, 2019 at 6:58 pm (5 years ago)She definitely had good intentions. LOL
Alice Gerard
October 1, 2019 at 11:41 pm (5 years ago)I really enjoyed reading the thought process that you went through while deciding that the pillbox was a good gift! Sometimes, the practical gifts are the best!
Elisa Heisman
October 3, 2019 at 7:07 pm (5 years ago)Thanks, Alice. Yes, I agree although a Barnes & Noble gift card would be just as nice! LOL Thanks for reading. 🙂
Patricia Selmo
October 1, 2019 at 10:28 pm (5 years ago)Lovely story – reminds of when my 5 year old grandson kept exclaiming excitedly how large we were getting (me, his mom), etc. and how much we must weight, etc. We finally figured out he thought getting bigger and bigger was a good thing since we get so excited when he grows – LOL! It’s all perception, right?
Elisa Heisman
October 3, 2019 at 7:08 pm (5 years ago)Yes it is! Thanks for reading Patricia!
Claudette Chenevert
October 1, 2019 at 5:36 pm (5 years ago)I’m like you where I forget if I took my meds or not. And although I have an alarm on my phone, I will dismiss it because of timing.
It’s a good practice to assume people’s intentions are good. Helps build positive and lasting relationships.
Elisa Heisman
October 3, 2019 at 7:08 pm (5 years ago)Glad I’m not the only one that forgets these things. Thanks for reading!
Paul Taubman
October 1, 2019 at 11:31 am (5 years ago)Good intentions on the part of one person can get misconstrued like this when we have our own ideas pop into our heads. While I do not think for a moment that you were not pleased with the act of receiving the gift, internally you related it to growing older.
It happens to most people when something unexpected triggers an old thought or feeling.
Funny, isn’t it, how our minds work that way?!?!
Thanks for sharing.
Jenna Heisman
October 1, 2019 at 11:22 am (5 years ago)you are welcome!