Thinking about Wil

If you were opening gifts with us last Christmas morning, you’d have known this yellow WVU coffee mug was my happiest surprise.

I would learn my grandson, Wil Dungey, had it when he came a week earlier for Christmas break from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.  I had no idea.  He had proudly shown his Mother, “I got Gem’s mug.”  She suggested he include it as one of his Christmas gifts.  Every moment before Christmas, Wil was his usual charming self, my lovable grandson; happy to rest/sleep, ready to eat, be off to the gym, enjoy TV, always tethered to his iPhone.  Never was there a hint he thought about the mug I had aggressively begged him to pick up for me since his second year on campus

I really wanted a mug from WVU.   I had several Howard University mugs his sister gifted me as she worked toward her graduation. I let him know I wanted at least one of WVU’s mugs to warmly grasp those mornings I sat with a cup of coffee and mused about the lives of all my grandchildren.   Guys aren’t girls though.  So I sort of pestered my favorite young man – to keep my wish on his mind.  

His third year on campus ended; he came home without the mug.  Mid-summer he returned to Morgantown and knowing time was running out, I sent him extra money and begged his attention toward picking up a mug for me at his campus store.  “It doesn’t have to be expensive, at all.  Not plastic though.”

Laughing, he promised, “I know.  I will Gem.”   

The mug wasn’t with him when he came for Fall Break.  He smiled sheepishly.  Although disappointed, I smiled also.  No doubt, he would remember to remember and I would have it for my birthday in early November.  Nope.

My father’s words from high school days came to me – his promise, “get your college degree and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need.”  Well, I had earned my BS a long, long time ago.  And, I really needed that WVU mug hanging in my cabinet or warm in my hands.  So, I went online and ordered a WVU tablecloth and four WVU mugs.  My 2014 Thanksgiving table would be a WVU themed table in recognition of my grandson and his undergraduate college career winding down.  It would be a surprise.  Should he bring the mug home for Thanksgiving, I would still be thrilled.  I kind of expected that to happen.  It didn’t. 

Thanksgiving Dessert 

Of course, Wil, his sister, and their Mother were just as surprised as I had imagined they would be, seeing that unique table setting on Thanksgiving morning.  Too bad I can’t find all the pictures I took.  It was a fun, great time. 

For sure, though, nothing compared to my exuberant shock the next month on Christmas morning as I pulled Wil’s gift, the beautiful yellow mug, from its packaging.  Hearing him talk about telling his friends, “I’ve got to get my grandmother a WVU mug”, was very neat also.  It’s a very special mug, warns ‘’wash by hand”.  I love it.  "Thanks again, Wil.”

Wil Dungey III celebrated his 22^nd birthday this past week.     “Happy Birthday, Wil.  May you have a wonderful year.”