Sunday 2 December 2012

Storytelling Sunday Two: The Words The Pictures

Welcome to the last Storytelling Sunday of 2012. We've taken it right through the year again, can you believe it? So far we have recorded 473 stories from January to November. Isn't that storytelling to be proud of? Some of you have filed a story for every one of those months, others have enjoyed dropping in when inspiration has struck. I like that: no pressure, just a good yarn when you have one.

Coming Home I said I'd think about for the December edition. And when I decided on that as a Christmas theme, I actually had an entirely different story in mind. But, as some of you know, it's been quiet around here for the last couple of weeks; and, as that husband of mine has made his trips to the Pharmacy and kept us all going, I remembered the first time he looked after me. The first time he brought me home.

Coming Home

We were students. We'd been students for the grand total of six weeks - which means that we'd been a couple for the equally excellent sum of five weeks and a day. Things in the Halls of Residence were fine and dandy. Student life was good. And then I phoned home.

"We know you were planning on coming home for the weekend," they said. "Don't. We've got chicken pox. Stay away from the plague house."

"Oh. Okay," I said. "Um..get well soon.." and I put the phone down.

That ought to have been the end of the story, of course. But, you know, I started thinking..it was half way through my first term, I'd been looking forward to telling them all how I was doing, everyone else was clearing out and I'd be on my own all weekend. Plus, they were sick, they needed my help...

I went home. And you can tell where this is going, can't you? I got back to Halls on Sunday night. By Wednesday i wasn't feeling too good. On Thursday I didn't want to get out of bed; and by Friday it was obvious to all my new student friends: I had chicken pox.

What were we going to do? I couldn't stay in Halls. My boyfriend did the only thing he could think of: he phoned his Dad. And that dear, good man took charge. He had only met me once, for about ten minutes; but he already understood that his son and I meant a lot to each other, and he didn't hesitate. He didn't know me, I didn't know him; but he got straight into his car and drove through the night from his home town to the university and then on to my town, with a sick, feeling-very-sorry-for-herself girl in the back of his car. He delivered me safely to my own recovering family and then he turned round and drove all the way back.

I still think it's one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. My new boyfriend and his Dad brought me home; and I loved them for it. I got back to Halls after a week, just in time for the Christmas parties and life went on. But that night made a big impression on me and, today, when our two ask for a story about their Grandpa, I'll quite often tell them this one. I reminded that boyfriend about our first Christmas just yesterday. 

"I should have known then," he said, like he always does. "Sometimes you need a bit of looking after. But you always bounce back. Just in time for Christmas party season, too."

Not that year, but the next. Packing up for Christmas, I'm taking a break, looking out the window of my room in  Halls. I see I'm wearing a sweater I knitted myself and  my favourite pair of black ski pants (ski pants?! It was the 80's)

And that's my story for today. Are you going to help us bring the grand total for the year to 500? Oh, let's do it! Write your Storytelling Sunday post, come on over and add your link, drop by on some of the other storytellers..let's make December the best one of the year.

40 comments:

Barbara Eads said...

What a great story. You had to know it was LOVE after that! Apparently your husband's father knew if first. When you're sick, all you want to do is be in your own bed. What a thoughtful guy to have arranged that!!

Amy said...

A lovely story indeed - and I love The Accountants recent comment about being right for all the Christmas cheer!

Thanks Sian for all of your encouragement and support - it is greatly appreciated.

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

That is such a sweet story!

Kirsty.A said...

Great story. Well done to The Accountant's Dad

helena said...

lovely story - a sure sign of a family well worth joining. I love the photo with all the little details of student accom in the 80s

Maria Ontiveros said...

I love that photo and what a great story. Somehow it doesn't surprise me at all.
rinda

Missus Wookie said...

Glad that you are all bouncing back in time for some Christmas cheer this year too. Lovely story and I really liked the five weeks and a day comment - made me smile.

debs14 said...

It's obvious that this was going to be 'the one'! What a lovely thoughtful family you married into.
And I, for one, think that ski pants with a long jumper was a great fashion style back then! The 80s version of leggings and jeggings!!!

Becky said...

A lovely story - how funny that we should both do stories about our 'to be' in-laws and how kind they are/were. We obviously both had found 'the one'!

Alana said...

Oh yes those fashions take me back..... What a delightful story of love and good will. Just right for the forthcoming season.

Jimjams said...

Awww that's sweet - just shows he comes from good stock!
Did anyone else in halls come down with the Pox while you were infectious? Love the photo - takes me back to my student days - I'm sure they were & are still using those chairs and tables (though we had bare breeze block walls).

Jane said...

what a lovely story xx

Jen said...

A lovely story - thank you for hosting Storytelling Sunday - I have loved all the stories I read - though haven't shared many this year.

Anonymous said...

You must have known he was a keeper after that!

Lou said...

Such a lovely story - yet i felt for you having Chicken pox.

...and "ski pants" ...oh I so remember them lol!!

I've joined in with sts more than i thought i would and have really enjoyed it. You make me think of things that i thought were truly long forgotten...like our chicken pox story x thank you Sian x

Cheri said...

ah, the follies of youth! You should have listened when your parents told you not to go home. Having done so, it's a wonder you didn't start an epidemic at the Halls. Your FIL sounds like a wonderful man!

Mel said...

This was very kind of them both. At first I thought you were going to say they were taking you home to their house!

Miss Smith said...

What a lovely gesture - I'm glad something really lovely came out of chicken pox!

Merry Christmas :D

Abi said...

This is such a lovely story and what a kind man! It's funny because the boy and I have a very similar story.

I was trying to get to his for the weekend last year, I wasn't feeling good and I got to the station to find my train was cancelled. I would have to wait over two hours in the freezing cold, in the middle of nowhere. I phoned him feeling very sorry for myself. Next thing i know his dad has driven an hour to pick me up from the station and taken me home! It was just so kind!

Thank you for bringing back that memory!

Sian said...

That's a lovely story too Abi.

Cheri - so true! When I look back at it now, it seems like a really silly thing to have done. I could have brought the whole building down.

Ginger said...

If ski pants are the same as stirrup pants - then I wore those too and loved them :)

A beautifully told story.

Thanks Sian for another year of good stories. Amy is right, your encouragement is engaging. My story is one I wrote for JYC (my first year) and I always felt there were things missing from it, so I rewrote it a bit.

laurie said...

that must have proved to you what a wonderful, caring family your boyfriend came from. i love that photo - i went to college in the eighties and wore those pants often but we called them stirrup pants. :-) i finally wrote a story and added it to your link!

alexa said...

Heart-touching and -warming :). (And I guess you never had to worry about meeting his family after that!) The accountant is clearly like his own Dad, judging from all those trips to the pharmacy and his sweet and cheering remarks...

Melissa said...

Yes, I'm definitely here to help reach 500 for the year - what an amazing amount of storytelling! Thanks so much for inspiring us each month, Sian.

What a wonderful memory you've shared today & how lucky to have had such a thoughtful father-in-law even before he was your father-in-law! I think I had those same pants, but I had a bright yellow sweater I liked to wear with them (which I, of course, did NOT knit myself!).

Mary B said...

That is such a lovely story and such a wonderful thing your Father in Law to be did for you.

Thank you Sian for this lovely year of stories I have so enjoyed being part of it all. Thank you also for linking my story this time. I've only just been able to get on the internet this evening.

Alison said...

A great story to end the year on Sian...beautifully told as always!
Alison xx

scrappyjacky said...

What a wonderful story,Sian...and what a wonderful FIL you have.

Lynn said...

Another great story - human kindness at its best. Thanks for hosting story telling sunday. After a long break I was glad I managed to make the last one of the year - albiet a day late.

Mitralee said...

I love this story! It's funny how things work out. I too was with hubby through college and we have a long history of taking care of each other.

Beverly said...

That would have definitely confirmed my love for the man. Doing what he thought was the kind and right thing showed you the character and generosity of the man that raised your love. You have been blessed to have these two in your life.

I am getting ready to write my final story of 2012, a bit late but it will be preserved and shared and that's what it's all about isn't it, dear Sian? Thank you for being an encouraging all of us to do that.

Ifa said...

Aaaw, how sweet were they? No wonder you stuck around. Had to laugh at the ski pants LOL...I never had one...I prefered jeans.

Lizzie said...

Lovely story! What a kind family - you were so lucky to meet The Accountant right at the start of your college years.
I probably had chicken pox around the same time as you - there does seem to have been a bit of an epidemic mid '80s.... But I was at home and able to rest quietly and endure my quarantine in peace!

My BF's friend Mark was very kind once. We stayed at his house in Ipswich and I woke up with a terrible upset tummy (I had some very evil lurgy...). Despite the anti-social nature of my illness, he drove us all the way home to Bedford, rather than make me take the train and bus. Perhaps he felt he had no choice, but he behaved as if it was a pleasure to help. It made me feel better already and was such a relief... contemplating a 4 hour journey home on public transport had been making me feel very ill indeed!

Hooray for the kindness of friends - especially new ones!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story and what a sweet man to do that for you.

Karen said...

It's another wonderful, heart-warming story! What a lucky girl you were . . . and are!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Aw, I love this story, Sian. How very sweet to know from early on that this kind family would be a part of your life for a very long time. Lovely memory, beautifully told. xo

Scrappi Sandi said...

Aaaaw! A lovely story!...& do you know?...I saw ski/stirrup pants in Matalan only last week & was sorely tempted!! In the eighties I lived in black ski pants with a vatiety of longline sweaters in bright colours...& bright ankle boots to match!! Those were the days...so stylish!!?!! :D

Wanda said...

There's a saying: "what goes around, comes around." In general, there seems to be negative connotations to the phrase in the sense that if someone treats others badly, they will eventually be treated badly themselves. Your story, however, illustrates the opposite--that when a person treats others respectfully and well, they will be treated similarly.

I really like how you tell the story from your younger perspective as well as those of your parents, future father-in-law, and children.

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

What a lovely heart warming story Sian, perfect for the time of year.

Miriam said...

This is such a beautiful story Sian, It certainly was love, I bet you knew, just as I did. x Thank you for another year wonderful year of story telling

Unknown said...

That was a beautiful story. Sometimes you just know that the man you have met is right for you.

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