The Mystery Package

Yesterday there was a package resting on our front porch. Being so close to Christmas, I was excited for a gift! Alas, it was not addressed to us, but to folks unbeknownst to us who live in Spokane, Washington. However, the return address was ours, and I noticed that the package had been sent by the previous owners of our home. I found that particularly peculiar, as they sold us the house in 2006. I couldn’t fathom why they would send a package using their old address, and quite frankly, it looked so old and beat up that I was freaked out. Naturally, I did what any rational person would do and left it outside.

Kendra came home not long after, and being unafraid of pretty much anything, brought it inside. I made her leave it unopened in the front hall. Neither of us could figure out why it had even been delivered – the post office knew we weren’t the return senders. It’s quite clear that the names do not match up to ours, yet they left it anyway. I found it unsettling.

Tonight our friend Janet came over for a visit, and as always, she ignited a bold, adventurous spirit in my dear wife. (As if she needs any help with that…) Kendra declared that they were going to open the package. I was nervous until Janet pointed out that the postage date was January of 2006!

Slowly, our mysterious package began to yield more clues. I was a bit shocked to learn that it had taken the post office almost SIX years to return the box to the sender. It didn’t make much sense, as it was returned with the message that the recipient had “moved long time ago.” Why would the senders mail a package in 2006 to an address that had long been out of date? That’s when Janet (who shall here-forth be known as “Super-Sleuth”) noticed the package had been stamped in Spokane on December 7, 2011!

Where the heck had this package been sitting for almost 6 years? I felt like I was in one of those made for TV specials about a love letter that makes it to the recipient 50 years after it is written.

We decided that is was safe to open the box, and when we did, we found a beautifully wrapped gift covered in mint-green paper and ribbon printed with hearts, strollers, and the words “Sweet Baby.” Clearly this gift was meant to welcome a little one into the world. We unwrapped the present and found the cutest baby Tims and matching beanie!

Upon further inspection, Super-Sleuth noticed that the white paper upon which the address of the recipient had been written was actually an envelope! We opened it up, and discovered that the present was meant for a little boy named Connor. Sadly, I am quite sure that his seven-year old feet would not fit into size 2 infant shoes.

Though the previous owners of our house left us no contact information, I decided to try to track them down. It was the least I could do considering the post office had failed on so many accounts. It didn’t take long – after a quick Google search, I found both the senders and recipients on Facebook. With a message sent, I am awaiting instructions about what to do with the gift. Perhaps it will make its way to little Connor after all – just in time for Christmas! 😉