I received a very special Christmas present from my 7-year-old son. At his elementary school “Holiday Shop,” he bought me one of those “double-wall” water bottles with the straw that can’t fall out. He knows I like to take that kind of water bottle to work with me. That in itself, I thought, was very considerate for a first-grader. However, this wasn’t any old double-wall water bottle with the straw that can’t fall out, this one was extraordinary. The design on it had a beautiful, unique Matryoshka doll pattern. I was floored. 

You see, as a young girl growing up, I collected these Russian stacking dolls, well into my twenties, and have them on display in my bedroom. And what made it even more special was, as a baby, my son used to play with a few of them. He played with one in particular that was a pig, and so he nicknamed all the dolls “piggies.” He would take his chubby little finger and point to them if he wanted to play with one and say, “PIGGY!”

After I opened my gift and held it in my hands I was so touched I was moved to tears. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. I couldn’t believe the thought he put into my gift.  The water bottle with the Matryoshka dolls on it threw me for a loop. How creative could one child be? He’s only seven! I hugged him and kissed him to no end. This plastic water bottle only cost a few dollars, but to me it was worth all the money in the world. I told him how much it meant to me that he picked out such a special pattern on my water bottle. My son then paused and furrowed his brow. He analyzed the water bottle. He then responded, “Huh? Oh, I thought they were flip-flops.” BUBBLE = BURST. 

Um, did I mention how much I love the beach? I love the beach. As a little girl growing up…