So, things have been pretty rough at work lately. These exchanges have been a beacon of hope and joy amid the long, difficult days. I recently said, "I need a win. A good day." Well, my santa sure delivered.

My husband called me 12 hours into my day today to tell me that I had surprise waiting when I got home. 2 hours later, I was feverishly ripping the tape from a nondescript box and bracing myself for whatever hid inside. I'm not too humble to admit that at first I was a little disappointed, because it looked like there was just a piece of poster-board in the box and that was it. However, once I lifted it from the box, I realized it was so much more. Shrieking with glee, I flipped what I now realized was a canvas over to see one of my all-time favorite musical characters: Elphaba.

My husband gasped in shock. It was so beautiful, so well done, so inspirational. The card that accompanied the art, aside from being a fantastic leopard print, was very touching.

"Hello Fabulous Fellow Theatre Lover, I wanted to gift you something special, something personal. So, I spent the last couple of weeks painting this just for you. I hope it brings you joy and fills your life with music and good conversation. Love, Roxie"

This wonderful gift will be hung above my bed to remind me of the generosity, kindness, and awesomeness of a stranger who truly did bring joy into my life. Roxie for the win.

Also, the cat loves the empty box, as most cats do. She created a reverse-type-whackamole game with the dog wherein she pops out of the box and slaps the dog on the head. It's entertaining.