Publisher’s message: an anonymous surprise arrived

Lots of surprising things happen each day when you’re the publisher of the local news source, Chelsea Update.

News stories pop up. Emails and texts arrive or the phone rings alerting me of breaking news or a cool feature idea.

And then there’s the mail. Each time I go to the mailbox, I hope that an advertiser has paid a bill or a reader has sent a donation. (And, of course, if you’d like to make my day, donations in any amount at any time can be sent to Chelsea Update, 18829 Bush Road, Chelsea, MI 48118. Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

But what I found in my mailbox recently was totally unexpected. If it were closer to Christmas, I’d say I had a Secret Santa.

And since no one has come forward to take credit for it since it arrived, the gesture makes it even more special. So special, in fact, I wanted to share it with readers. And no, not to find out who sent it because I like knowing someone or someones out there was thinking about me, but to remind folks that surprises, good things and smiles can be found when you least expect them. I think we all need to be reminded of that right now.

In years past, folks who have chosen to remain anonymous and left me a turkey and a ham at different times outside my front door.

I was gifted a pig and a half a pig from someone who attended the Chelsea Community Fair auction.

And all of those wonderful gestures have been totally unexpected and so appreciated, and I’ve shared this generosity with friends because well … that’s about the only thing that could make these gifts even more special.

Recently, I received another anonymous gift — that someone (or someone’s?) knew I wanted. Badly. And it’s not the kind of gift you can share. It was purchased specifically for me and I’m still smiling each time I look at it.

Those of you who pay close attention to what’s published on Chelsea Update know that in addition to my hobby of showing and training dogs, I also enjoy cross-stitching and enter my finished projects at fair each year.

I’d been ogling these two projects for months but decided that I had a few here left to do so I’d wait to purchase one of them. Partially in hopes that the price would go down.

So, I cannot begin to thank my mystery benefactor enough. And I look forward to starting one of these two kits in the future. And based on the size, I’ll be thinking of this person or persons frequently during the many months it will take me to complete them.

So, periodically, I’ll share my progress and hope that whomever sent them, will see the story and smile as broadly as I am now.