January. What a month! Possibly the most memorable ever due to the creative efforts of those closest to me, who came together to give me the ‘Best Gift Ever’ for Christmas. Each day of January, all 31 of them, I received a gift from this group. Sometimes it was a warm thought, a silly instruction for the day, some pampering, new music, gift card to a favorite place…it was a great way to start each day. The only bad part was the few times I’d be out and about and remember that I forgot to check my calendar that morning - then I’d have to suffer the anticipation until I could return home.

Here’s a list of my 31 gifts:

1. A rhyme by my witty 13 year old ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’, that I should say on the first day of the new year for good luck
2. An hour massage from one of the significant other’s sister, who is a massage therapist (and is fantastic!)
3. A day of dishes by my ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
4. A love letter from my very insightful 21 year old ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’
5. A new music CD of an artist my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ and her ‘Awesome Boyfriend’ were sure I’d love (they know me so well!)
6. A breakfast of ‘Toad in the Hole’ made by none other than my own ‘Significant Other’ (he does it so much better than I do)
7. A gift card to my favorite local coffee shop, It’s A Grind
8. A love letter from my 18 year old ‘Favorite Son’, who has recently left the nest, with an invitation to meet downtown for a Jamba Juice - his treat; while he’ll come for dinner with ‘Adorable Girlfriend’, he never brings his laundry home
9. An incredibly sweet note from Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’s sister (’s neighbor’s aunt’s friend…)
10. A warm thought from my very own ‘Significant Other’
11. Gift card from my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ for cocktails at Corner View, my favorite place to hangout and catch up with friends
12. Note full of sweetness from my ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
13. A music CD I’ve been wanting for awhile from this talented young artist
14. Dog Walk by ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’ - without asking
15. Note from my ‘Favorite Son’ declaring how much he and ‘Adorable Girlfriend’ love to come for dinner and requesting an invitation
16. Car Wash certificate from ‘Favorite Youngest Daughter’
17. Coco, the CD from Colbie Caillat
18. Voucher for a romantic dinner anywhere I want with my very own ‘Significant Other’ (hmmm, I haven’t yet tried this place)
19. All the Lost Souls CD by James Blunt
20. A shopping extravaganza with ‘Significant Other’ where I get to buy anything I want…at the Dollar Store…isn’t he generous? And funny?
21. A cure for my coffee fix with another gift card to my favorite local coffee shop
22. Border’s gift card from ‘Significant Other’….book or music, book or music, book or music?
23. More of my favorite things - music, music, music
24. Another warm thought from ‘Significant Other’…with amusing descriptions of how silly he can be
25. Jamba Juice gift card from ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’
26. Movie tickets
27. Another CD
28. Warm thoughts from my ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’ with a good luck mantra for the month of February
29. Another solution to my coffee fix…yes, another gift card
30. An incredible note from ‘Favorite Oldest Daughter’s Awesome Boyfriend’
31. A last gift, more music to carry me through the rest of 2008

How can they top this next year?