“Bring me back something.” That’s what I told Daddy every time he had to travel out of town for a conference or meeting of some kind. I didn’t care what it was, just as long as I got something.
As soon as he got home, I’d run to meet him, “Did you bring me something?” I wiggled and waited impatiently for him to unpack his suitcase. Sure enough, tucked away in the pocket was a special gift for me – a bar of soap. Yep, that’s what it was every time. You would have thought he gave me a million dollars.
The bar of soap was always from the hotel or the place he stayed. I would grin from ear to ear, hold the bar of soap close and run off to my room to hide the treasure in my jewelry box.
That may have been a silly little thing to most kids, but to me it was a never-ending game. Even when I was grown with kids and grandkids of my own, he would bring me a bar of soap from his adventures. Some of the soap ended up going on adventures with me. Other soaps are still tucked away in my jewelry box. Once in a while I get my bars of gold out, show them to my grandkids and tell them about my special gifts from the past.
You know? Those little bars of soap didn’t cost him a dime yet knowing that he always thought of me while he was away is priceless. It always brings a smile to my face and sometimes a tear to my eyes as I think of the joy that was given to a scrawny little girl in that one small sliver of soap.
August 2019