What Craig's Christmas Package Meant to Me - It's My Turn Now

Well, I've heard from you what receiving the Christmas CD meant to each of you - now it's my turn to tell you what it really meant to me...

I was trying to think of a "universal gift" that I could give to everyone, where the gift would be the same and everyone would still love it - no small task as you know. Everyone loves Christmas music at the holidays and the idea was born.

I put together the "classics" that we all grew up with, sung by the great artists of the day. Even today, they evoke such emotions and take us all back to a simpler time in our lives when we were just kids enjoying the most "magic" time of the year. Part of the gift was to transport us back to those wonderful times when things were so simple and traditional and had such extra meaning - and long before the days of having cancer and worrying about tomorrow.

What I wanted to achieve was to first, SURPRISE you all! As I get older, I find fewer and fewer things that actually are a surprise in life anymore, but I still had this surprise left in my tool bag to give you - so I did and it was wonderful.

After the surprise wore off, the next thing I wanted from this was for you to be HAPPY for just a few minutes of the holidays and to let you all know that I was thinking about each of you out there. I wanted you to have a smile on your face - joy in your heart - and laughter in your voice. I tried to imagine your reactions as you opened the card and found the "autographed" picture with the music CD and what you felt when you first heard the music play.

I know so many of you have had such a rough year fighting your battles, so I just wanted to lighen your load and brighten your hope for a few moments this holiday season, so your mind could just relax and enjoy that moment for what it was meant for - I think I did that from what I read. I could not take all of your troubles away, so I thought that this would represent me being a tiny part of your holidays and for you to know that I cared about you.

The thing I really found amazing was how many "transformations" took place as a result of the gift of Christmas music. Time and time again, I read how pity parties became wonderful tree decorating parties, how husbands were in bad moods, but instantly changed when the music played, how kids were running to the mailboxes in anticipation, how couples began dancing around, singing and laughing and carrying on, how one couple listened to it over and over on their trips to their clinical trial, how a sister wanted to give this gift to her sister for her unselfish and caring ways, etc.etc - all from a SINGLE CD and the loving thought behind it.

So, perhaps this was the gift of "MAGIC." Because it certainly had some healing properties and I felt it from the responses that you gave back to me. Truly heartwarming stories and the gratification that I helped make a difference in some of your lives - if only for a moment, that was enough for me.

From my own perspective, I found that each one of YOU are my GIFT

I wanted nothing in return and got back a stocking stuffed with your feelings and I think it's very hard to fake real feelings. I believe you all meant what you said to me and it made me feel so good to be able to give you a little surpirse, a little something extra for all that you have gone through as Patients and CareGivers in 2009.

Santa immediately "deputized" me Santa Craig to help him out with making these packages and getting them where they needed to go.

All in all, I made up "45" special packages and sent them as far away as England, to our sister, Sonia. And several more went across the border into Canada to Kathy (luvinlife2) and Canada Sue, and Canada Rob. I hope you guys have gotten yours by now. We also said "Aloha" and "Mele Kalikimaka" to our Hawaiian family members...and we winged it from Wyoming, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, the Carolinas and up to New Hampshire and all the other states in between HO HO HOing all the way. I want to thank everyone who provided me addresses so that I could send you a card and card stuffer this year and hope that you will enjoy it for years to come. Thank you so very much for being a part of Craig's Christmas Project this year - it was a huge success and very uplifting.

Thanks everyone for keeping it such a secret too! It was fun to see people trying to figure out "what this was." I saw people's mind again redirected off of their Cancer and their worries and just having fun being themselves. That was truly special as well. And thank you again for sharing your touching, heartwarming stories with me and the Board - that's the spirit in which this "gift" was given to you.

And lastly, this was so meaningful for me to give you that this year, because of one very simple thing - I'm still ALIVE to be able to do it for you.

Why is this important?

Because, I will never forget Christmas 2007, before my liver surgery, where 3 different doctors told me "it is highly unlikely that you will live to see another Christmas."

It's Christmas 2009 now, which if I'm adding right is 2 more years than any of them gave me hope for - they pissed me off that day and I said under my breath, "Ol' Craig will just show all of you!" And I did.

The moral of the story:
Be grateful for each minute we are given, that is a real gift. Be a blessing and give of yourself to others, that is another real gift. And DO NOT listen to every thing your doctor, or 3 doctors tell you about your prognosis - had I listened to them, there would be no CD under your tree or in your changer this year and I would have never known any of you - and that would have been a tragedy - instead you are my gift this year and you will keep on giving to me and the others in your life for a very long time...and that is the REAL GIFT!

Happiest Holiday 2009!
-Craig