The Kindness of Strangers

Many years ago, I was moving into my apartment and rushing like mad to get everything ready before Christmas so Jack and I could be settled.  It quickly became apparent that there was no way that deadline was going to be met, but my little boy asked Santa for a new bedroom and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure he got it.  I enlisted all of my closest friends, many of whom have received baby blankets featured in this blog somewhere, and we got all the painting done and carpeting laid and furniture moved in.  But Jack was missing bedding for his new room and my bank account was hovering dangerously low.

One afternoon, a friend of mine showed up with a Christmas present for me.  She refused to say who it was from.  I was to believe in Santa and accept the gift without question.  Underneath all that wrapping paper was a complete Lightening McQueen bedding set.  It seems one night after hours of painting, she had stopped at the local pub.  A good friend of hers, and someone I barely knew at the time, asked her why she was covered in paint.  She told that friend my story and mentioned the bedding conundrum in passing.  My anonymous benefactor instructed her to purchase whatever Jack needed, even though we were mere acquaintances at best.

I did some detective work and eventually found out who my Santa was.  I knit him cabled socks that year as a thank you, cloaked in my well-known desire to knit socks for everyone.  

That was several years ago, and he recently told me that the heels were wearing thin.  And so, all this time later, these are my official Thank You socks.  I have no idea if you'll read this, and you may not think it was much, but you were integral in helping make my son's dream come true that year, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

May they warm your feet for years to come.  And know that there will always be another pair whenever you need them.