I was 13 when my mom married Dan. He is the only father I've ever claimed. He was a precious and gentle man, he loved me like I was his own. For their 1st anniversary, mom wanted a rocking chair-at the time they were expecting several grandchildren. Dan and I assembled a rocking chair, it was beautiful. It was a project that Dan and I worked on together. Mom loved it. For many years, I have requested the rocking chair be mine, when mother died. She had tried to give it to me many times, but getting it from California to Florida always proved to be a small problem. When my brother and I cleaned out mom's house in January, the rocking chair was tied to the top of the truck from California to Arizona, to my brother's house. He said he would get it to me somehow. Last week, a crate company called and Cary made arrangements for the crate to be delivered on Monday, but they were to call FIRST. They did not. I came home to find out they had tried to deliver the crate, and I needed to call them. I did. I talked to Dave. We became good friends before the day was over. Dave said he would have someone right back out to deliver it. He called right back and said "Mrs. Robinson, we DID deliver that crate!" Now, not knowing where in the world that crate could be hidden outside my house, the logical question for Dave was "WHERE did you deliver that crate???" Dave gave me an address, and I walked down the street looking for the address while Dave was attached to my ear. When I found it, Dave KNEW it! I said "How in the world do you think I can get that crate from THIS house to MY house???" He said he'd send someone right out to move it. You see, it was not small, I'm guessing about a 4 foot square. I told Dave I thought it would be a real good idea to get someone right over to move it off my neighbor's porch, since it was blocking his front door completely. Well, Dave called right back and he said "Mrs. Robinson, your neighbor said he had the ability to get that BOX to you!" I said I'd go talk to my neighbor. I did. I said "Did you tell these people that you had the abilty to move this CRATE to my house??" He said "No, that's not exactly the way it was!" He said they asked him if he would sign for a BOX for me, he said he would. They said it was a little heavy, he said he had a dolly and would roll it over to me. The nice neighbor went in his house to get his shoes on, and came out his front door to find the semi pulling away from his house, and the CRATE on his front porch! I had Dave on the phone in no time at all. He had the semi back at my house in no time at all. I stood outside and took pictures of the process each step of the way. Finally, the CRATE arrived in MY driveway, (WOW, what a novel idea, don't you think?) and Carissa and her friends went to town trying to get the lid off the CRATE. Finally, the crate was opened, the chair was out and had safely arrived at its new home. My brother had it completely re-done and it is just beautiful. I've spent a lot of time just standing in front of it. I LOVE it. It makes me feel all the good things I thought it would. I remember a dad that meant everything to me-a gift that lots of kids don't have through a birth father and certainly not from a step father. I remember the love of two people that serves as a perfect example of the way it SHOULD be. I remember a mom that rocked many babies, including two of mine, in that chair. It reminds me of many good things and people, and I feel embraced by all of them every time I sit in it. I'm not usually big on "things" but this means a lot to me. Without a doubt, it was the biggest birthday gift I have ever received. Wonder what will come NEXT year? Many thanks to Dave, but most of all, to a brother that went the extra mile-or MANY extra MILES.
