A CHRISTMAS SOCK STORY

This Christmas Phillip wanted to completely celebrate.  Though we usually don't celebrate Christmas, we are not sure if this may be his last so we had a tree-trimming party (since we have no ornaments). All of our friends came and celebrated Phillip's life!  It was so wonderful.

I had been waiting to get paid for a movie I did months ago.  The film company was giving me the run around so I didn't have any money for presents. 

This was bitter-sweet for me.  I wanted so badly to give my son the best Holiday EVER.  I thought what can I possibly get him without having money. I thought that I could make him a couple of certificates for items until my check came in. He really didn't want much except...

Phillip has this quirk about new socks.. he's always asking me to buy him a new package of socks.. Everyone has their thing.   Who am I to deny him a little happiness.

So I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if I could get him 365 pairs of socks for Christmas. One for every single day I believe he will live in 2006,  as a gesture of hope from me. So I started -a little late I must admit- to investigate the possibilities of getting him this large order of foot covers.   I wrote and called the Gold-toe sock company. I told them of my son's condition, and what he wanted most for X-mas.  My friend Kathy was trying to help me get the socks for wholesale. Normally these socks run 11.00 for 3 pairs.  That's a whole lot a moola for socks, about 1,500.00 retail. Plus there's a minimum that a store must order.  

We just needed 30 dozen.

When I called the company last Wednesday, the representative told me they were closing early on Thursday, EST @ 3p.m. and she patched me thru to the gentleman who she believed could help me. I left him a message asking about the minimum, the wholesale price and if it would be at all possible realizing that they were closing for X-mas.

Well I heard from him the very next day.  I wasn't able to catch the phone but on his message he said.. "Ms. Del Rio, just wanted to let you know that we sent your boy some socks (sweet Southern accent, North Carolina style) overnight, you should be receiving them by the 24th, We at Gold-toe wish you and your son a very Merry Christmas".

I was so moved, I cried! I called him right back, left a message saying how very grateful I was and that he would make Phillip's Christmas so special. 

We received the shipment of socks on Christmas Eve.  5 huge boxes, sent overnight via UPS (very expensive) 365 pairs of the finest gold-toe, cushioned wonderful, All-Pro, microspun socks you've ever seen.

On Christmas morn, Phillip opened his presents and I saved the best one for last.. I made him a card.. explaining the generosity of this man at Gold-Toe and he opened the boxes. He practically cried. He was so excited. NEW SOCKS for everyday of 2006. Now that's something to live for :)  what a sweetie..

This act of kindness really changed by belief in Christmas.. this is what the spirit of X-mas is all about. 

Giving from the heart!

Thank you Ken and all the folks at the Gold Toe Sock Company.