I was rapidly heading toward 16 years old.  It was cold (my birthday is in December) and we had to march (I was a band geekmember in the annual Christmas parade.  It was on a Saturday, 4 days before the big birthday.  At about 1:00pm, the doorbell rang.  I was busy doing chores around the house, as was my mother, while my dad lay on the couch like a big fat turd, doing not a damn thing.  He barked at me to go get the door.  I was furious with him for that.  He wasn’t doing anything, why didn’t HE go get the stupid door.  He wouldn’t budge, so I stomped to the door (in that way that only teenage girls can) and jerked it open.  There, on my front porch, stood my grandparents!  I had no idea they were coming into town for any reason, but there they were. 

Many greetings were exchanged, I finished my chores and headed out to get ready to march in the parade.  After the parade, I thought we were headed home, but we went by an apartment building where a family friend lived.  My mom blindfolded me and they led me into the rec room of the apartment complex.  When she pulled my blindfold off, there were 30 of my good friends/family screaming “SURPRISE”!  My mom pulled off a great surprise birthday party - which is why my grandparents were there.  :) That was the birthday that I was given my most precious material possession.  My cedar hope chest.  I love my hope chest, it sits at the foot of my bed and everytime I see it, I think of that birthday and how great it was.