Forgive the Poltergeist reference, that was just a popular phrase when I was growing up. For awhile, I felt like the print really was a ghost; a figment of my imagination. This was December 23, I felt like super crap, hadn’t finished my Christmas shopping, but got an email that made everything seem alright.
I quickly hopped in my ride and drove off to the Mays office to pick up my highly anticipated Christmas gift. I stood and took a gander at the boxes before picking them up. I checked and re-checked to ensure that I picked up everything. I grabbed all three boxes in one swoop and pressed them together like my 3 children I never wanted to part.
I loaded them up in my trunk, went on a 5 hour shopping expedition, fully running out of steam, while trying to forget that the books were riding with me.
When I got home, took the packages down to the cave and plopped them down onto my very lived on table.
I sat back and looked at the boxes in disbelief. I was shaking. I was afraid. I was afraid that if I opened the boxes, this would become real. I was afraid the books wouldn’t look like I wanted them to. I was afraid of the failure that could be contained within the pages if you, the readers, didn’t like what I’d poured into them.
My eyes welled up with tears.
I mustered up the courage to grab my scissors and slice open the tape.
I closed my eyes.
I inhaled.
I held my breath.
I exhaled slowly; deeply.
I opened my eyes, pumped my fists, and shouted…silently.
I didn’t want anyone to know yet that they arrived. I wanted to do a reveal with everyone.
A few hours later, I called down the family to do the big reveal.
Everyone was proud of me. No matter the outcome, my wife and 3 kids being proud of me is all I needed.
Now, I’m going to share my gift with you.