Matching Tree Designs to the Rescue

"Dr.Lana, I'm sorry, may I please just go home?" one of my best students meets me at my office door with a question instead of a greeting. She is clearly in great distress.

"Did something happen?" I ask her carefully. She is not the type to miss a class without a reason.

"Yes, my mom just texted me that my grandfather died," she says, crying. Her mascara is running down her cheeks. "And it’s my Birthday today!"

"Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry! On your Birthday!" I ask if I may give her a hug. She agrees, even though she is a lot taller than me and has to bend to my level. I give her all my warmth and empathy with that hug.

"Of course you can go home. Although, are you sure? Perhaps it's better to be among people right now?" I suggest carefully, without pushing it. “That’s what I would do, but I’m more of an extrovert.”

"No, I just really wanna go home to my mom and cry, in my bed."

"I understand, of course you can leave. Can I do anything for you right now?"

"A napkin, maybe?" she asks, smiling meekly. I give her a package of paper napkins and help her wipe off the running mascara. While doing that, I ask her if she was close with her grandfather and if he had a good life.

They were very close, she says, and yes he had a good life, was beloved by everyone and was only 78. My own grandfather, a World War II vet, died when he was 82, so I can relate. We swap a couple of good grandpa-granddaughter stories. By this time, I'm running late for the class by about 5-7 minutes, so she wraps it up, thanks me and leaves after we exchange our cellphone numbers.

I text her in the evening and a day later, to check on her. She says she is feeling a little better, being around the family, and thanks me for the understanding.

One of my best friends from the grad school years way back then makes beautiful hemp jewelry and sells it at her Etsy store named Matching Tree Designs. Several days before my student came to me, I ordered a really nice bumblebee necklace from the Matching Tree Designs, for myself. I love bees, and bumblebees are close enough. I received it in the mail one day before I'd see the distressed student in my class again.

I wrapped it up into a gift paper and was waiting for the opportunity to give it to her.

The next day, she came earlier, about 10 minutes before the class. I pulled her out into my office and told her carefully (you never know how people in work settings will take personal gifts) that I felt bad about her birthday not turning out as a celebration for her and wanted to make up for it.

I gave her the box, telling her about my life-long friend's jewelry skills and my passion for bees and honey. She says, "I love bees too! You should see my tattoos, they are all of insects!" She unwraps and opens the box. I'm watching her reaction. Gift-accepting is a nearly lost art among people these days. But she is very excited and thankful.

"I'll wear it to the next class," she promises when I ask if I could take a picture for a review on my friend's Etsy shop page. I did take the cover pic for this story in the next class. Doesn't it look gorgeous on that long graceful neck?

Author's note: This story is entirely true and written up to the best of my recollection of our conversations. You should definitely check out my friend's store if you need a beautiful affordable gift of high quality hemp jewelry for someone you care about.