By Christine Price
Columnist
Amidst all the stress, anxiety, craziness and bad news, my goal is to spotlight and share the good news in our community.
If you’re looking for proof that winter has officially overstayed its welcome, look no further!
The 18 inches of snow piled across our lawns and driveways and the single-digit temperatures have settled in Lake County for what feels like an eternity.
Schools have been canceled, errands postponed and many of us have reached that peculiar stage of winter where even leaving the house feels like an Olympic event.
After several days of being snowbound, I found myself doing what so many of us do when boredom settles in – I started shopping on Amazon.
Not for groceries.
Not for necessities.
No, I ordered a magic potion guaranteed to make my eyelashes grow long and lush.
When I checked online to see when my package would arrive, there it was right before my very eyes – a photo of my package, proudly displayed on my front porch, sitting squarely on my Christmas welcome mat.
There was no doubt about it. That was my porch. Amazon had the photographic evidence.
I ran to the front door, already imagining myself batting my long, lush eyelashes and yet when I opened the door, the package was nowhere to be found.
Panicking far more than the situation probably called for, I decided the blustery winds must have blown it off the porch.
The search begins
I put on a sweater, my warmest coat, two pairs of socks, a hat, gloves, boots and tied a scarf snugly around my neck.
I was certain my package had blown under some bushes or shrubs – or perhaps disappeared into a snowdrift.
I was certain I would find my package.
I circled the house, checking the corners of the porch, in front of the garage and down by the mailbox.
It felt like my search mission lasted forever. But in reality, it was mercifully brief.
Eleven degrees is bitter cold.
As I came back inside, still surveying the property for clues, I noticed rabbit tracks everywhere – including across my front porch.
Do you think a little bunny had come along and carried my package back to his rabbit hole?
I was officially obsessed.
Watching out the window for bunnies with long, lush eyelashes quickly became my newest winter pastime.
I was stymied.
If the package had blown into a neighbor’s yard, surely, they would see my name and address and pop it in my mailbox… or perhaps it had been claimed by a porch pirate.
Several days passed and each day I continued to bundle up and survey the property.
I checked the mailbox multiple times a day, hoping my long-lost package would find its way home.
Finally, out of ideas, I turned to Amazon. I explained my saga and, without hesitation, they promised to send me the secret eyelash potion at no charge.
Wow – don’t you just love Amazon?
Delivery day was set for Thursday. I was up at the crack of dawn, watching for delivery trucks.
The moment the package hit my porch, I vowed to be there.
No bunny, porch pirate or blast of winter wind was going to beat me this time.
And then it happened. At 2:29 p.m., the package landed on my Christmas welcome mat.
I retrieved it immediately, tore it open and there it was!
I’m not sure I’ll ever know what happened to my original package. When the tundra melts, perhaps it will show itself.
But one thing for sure – I will never look at a rabbit again without looking at its eyelashes!
When you see good news, and you will, please let me know. I would love to share it. Please include your name, phone number and city you live in and email.
