The Gift Of A Christmas Tree
Wednesday - January 21, 2009
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Del.icio.usDear Pamela,
We were really not in the holiday spirit this year as my mother-in-law passed away and we had her funeral services a week-and a-half before Christmas.
We were having lunch at Just Tacos restaurant in the Mililani Town Center when my daughter asked us, “When are we going to get a Christmas tree?” My husband and I replied that we may not get one this year. We were so down and stressed that finding a tree was low on the priority list.
That’s when Megan approached us. She overheard our conversation and offered their tree (the one decorated in the restaurant) to us. Of course, we said, “Oh, no, thank you, but that tree is for you and your customers.” She insisted. We said we would talk it over during lunch. We had the best lunch - the food was so good and Isabelle our server was unbelievable.
We decided we couldn’t take their tree and, after paying the check, we wanted to shyly leave the restaurant. But before we could, Megan and her husband (restaurant owners) came to our table and offered the tree once more. We then explained it’s not that we couldn’t afford a tree (and then offered them money for it, which they wouldn’t take), but with my mother-in-law’s passing, just couldn’t get into the mood to put one up. That’s when Megan said she understood, as her grandmother had passed around the holidays, and said she really wanted us to have this tree. We humbly accepted her offer.
Because of these true angels, my kids had a Christmas tree. But, more importantly, their kind gesture really touched our hearts and in such a sad time in our lives it put a smile on our faces and gave us hope, happiness and a renewed spirit. I hope Megan and her husband know how grateful we are for they changed this holiday for our family.
Nahoku Ahlo
Mililani
Dear Nahoku,
“They came in with the whole family and the daughter was almost crying because they wouldn’t be getting a tree,” says Jesus Santoyo. “The tree was something my wife Megan and I put up for a fundraising event earlier in the month. We donated 30 percent of our proceeds to an organization helping needy families. I’m so glad they took the tree. It meant more to us that they took it than keeping it here.”
Dear Pamela,
I have to express my sincere thanks to Brenda McGinny of Waipahu. I left my purse on the roof of my car after shopping. I had so many bags, I lost track of the really important one! I left the Waikele parking lot and came home, then realized what I was missing. Just at that moment I heard my home phone ring. It was Brenda calling on my cell phone, which was in my purse!
I drove back to Waikele and met her. I tried to give her a token of my gratitude, but she said no, she was happy to do it. A big mahalo to Brenda.
Lina Perreira
Pearl City
Dear Lina,
“I knew this purse meant a lot to somebody,” says Brenda, whose husband LeRoy is in Iraq. “When you’re part of a community, you help people.”
(If you know someone who deserves some Applause, send your letters to Pamela Young, MidWeek Applause, KITV, 801 S. King St., Honolulu, HI, 96813 or e-mail pyoung@kitv.com. Include your name, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of your “applaudee” so we can contact him or her.)
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