The best gift I ever received from my parents

See if you can guess what they gave me? It has lasted a lifetime and at 79 minus 8 days I am still enjoying it!
Here I am -  9.30am and ready to enjoy the day. Full of optimism of what rewards the day will bring - and not just one but several rewards. I didn't always feel like this - expecially when I woke on a Monday morning and thought of working at a job I hated but then, I had some good friends working there so that was positive. Generally though - for most of my life - I have felt positive. That's not to say I didn't feel down at times but my spirit soon set me to rights.

Most mornings I wake filled with optimism for the day and it is a long time since I didn't. It's not in my nature. It's wonderful being alive. The sun is shining - so there is a reward for a start - especially when one lives in England. Well, there you are, another reward - I live in a beautiful country - and while that is not intended to dismiss other parts of the Union, I live in England and love it. There were years, when I lived overseas, when I did not have that pleasure and I longed to return. This is not to dismiss the beauty of the country I lived in - it was South Africa - and it also is beautiful but it was not home. Still I made the best of it until I was able to return home permanently.

But this morning, and every morning since the 13th (who said the 13th was unlucky?),  I have woken extra specially positive because of an email which brought me a promise and a jigsaw piece which had been missing for 20 years, which slotted into place perfectly.

I have a motto - old as the hills - but nevertheless true - always look on th bright side of life. Now have you guessed the wonderful gift my parents gave me? I want the person who sent me that piece of the jigsaw to know they gave me a wonderful gift that day.