WatchingTedLasso

Have you heard of the story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry? I’ll not spoil it here if you haven’t, other than to say I am experiencing my own version. Also, go read the story. It’s a beautiful tale for the upcoming holiday.

My own version surrounds, of all things, Charlie’s truck. This truck. It’s not just a vehicle or an asset on paper. It took us on some pretty amazing adventures – to Arizona and back fairly early in our marriage, and to the Smoky Mountains where I thought it’d be cute to sing “Landslide” as we traversed down a rain-soaked mountain. It waited patiently for us to return safely. The truck kept Nellie warm as she’d go on duck hunts with Charlie. It held both Nate and Nellie in the back seat – each with their own window to stick their noses out and just inhale the goodness that is the outdoors. We didn’t take it to the hospital when Charlie was sick and I believe there’s a bigger reason for that. The memory of that last day, and the impact that I’ve felt since, is not associated with it. What a blessing.

What a blessing, indeed, that more than year on into widowhood I get a phone call – seemingly out of the blue, from one of Charlie’s many uncles. This one owns the service station serving as the truck’s temporary home.

After we dispensed with the, “I’m so glad you get to speak with me this evening.” and my refrain of, “No, Uncle Mark, I’m so glad you get to speak with me!” he asked how much I would take for the truck. Honestly, at this point, what I would take for the truck is worth far less than the relief and closure being able to sell it would bring.

“Well,”, he said, “I may have a buyer for you.” My heart and tears instantly leapt into my throat making it impossible to speak. Thankfully, Uncle Mark continued, “One of my nephews wrecked his truck and we’re almost certain his insurance is going to total it.”

Let me pause here and reassure you, the nephew is fine, he just needs a new set of wheels. And if the insurance company deems that the repairs to his truck would cost more than what it is currently worth, they would “total” it; giving him a check for the current value of that truck’s year, make, and model.

It just so happens (but we both know not really by now, right?) that the nephew’s truck is the exact same year, make and model as Charlie’s truck. Let’s let that work its magic for just a second.

From tragedy to tragedy. From my loss to his. From gain to gain for both of us. From one need to find a home to another that has one. It’s beautiful, really. It’s The Truck of the Magi.