A Family Joke

Joshua H.

            Christmas time usually brings back many fond and funny memories for my family.  One particular time I mistakenly got the "secret" present and that became a family joke at every Christmas.

            It was two years ago, my entire family including my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins went to spend Christmas day at my grand parents’ house.  We all had fun talking with each other, watching the parades and football, and eating a wonderful dinner.  After dinner we decided it was time to open the gifts, and I was chosen to give gifts out to everyone in the family.  Everyone received the gifts, but there was one present that was under the tree with an unreadable name on it. All that could be made out was a "J" on the letter so it was decided that it was for me.  Everyone opened up their gifts and was happy to receive what they had wanted for Christmas.  I finally opened my last gift that had the scribbled name on it. I was surprised to see the lingerie from Victoria Secret in the box. Everyone saw the gift and began to laugh hysterically. I remember feeling really embarrassed and bewildered. Who had gotten that present for me? Right at that time my uncle walked into the room from being out for an errand for my aunt.  He screamed to see his secret gift box opened.  I was again confused because my aunt’s name has no J's in it at all.  My uncle began to explain that it was meant to stay under the tree until everyone was gone so that he could give it to her as a surprise, that he thought no one would pick up a gift with an odd name and no "from:" person.

            This incident became a quickly told joke at family gathering. It was quite funny how a mislabeled surprise could become an embarrassment and then quickly became a family joke for years to come. This is one of the many family jokes that are shared through our Christmas season and new ones are constantly being made up every time we get together.