Thanks is not adequate enough.

I've often said that although there are many words in this great English language of ours, there are times when there just isn't a word to adequately convey what you want to say. This is one of those times.

I came home from work last night and shoveled off the deck and the front steps out to the mailbox. I wasn't going to shovel much beyond the mailbox but decided the milkman might appreciate a cleared walk to the milk box. So, I shoveled to the sidewalk. That was a good thing because it was warm enough, still at 4:15 to start melting the stuff on the deck and the front porch. I'll have a go at the driveway apron off and on over the weekend.

I brought in the mail and the above letter was in it. It's postmarked "Chicago" and had been mailed on Tuesday, during the snowstorm. There wasn't a return address but it was kind of fat. Curious, I opened it. Inside was the yellow piece of paper shown above, carefully folded around the Target gift certificate shown at the bottom right. The gift certificate is for a rather large sum.

I was speechless. I stood in my living room with tears running down my face. Whoever did this knows my name and address, knows my finances haven't been the best and knows I love to shop at Target and I can get pretty much anything I need at a Target, even fresh fruits and vegetables if I go to a SuperTarget.

There just are no words. I don't have any clue who might have done this and I know that's exactly how they want it. I will sit down with my list tonight and make a top 10 items I need and plan to visit the store on Saturday. I am so touched and so very grateful.

"Thank you" seems wholly inadequate.

Beverage: Earl Grey tea

Deb