December 24, 1999
This is our first Christmas in the White House. To say that the White House gets into the
spirit of the season a little would be like saying Congressmen like earmarks a little. The
decorations, the food, and the music are amazing! All we’d need to add was Santa Claus and
it would be like coming to work at the North Pole every day. I love this season. I love
everything about it, but most of all I love the presents.
Presents are the most important part of the season; and not just getting them either. I
love finding just the right thing for all the people in my life. I start in early October and keep
track of who I need to buy for and what I need for them. I don’t always buy presents either.
Sometimes I’ve been known to make something for someone, but since we moved into the
White House there really hasn’t been much time for that. So I’ve had to purchase almost
everything this year.
I was finally able to check the last person off my list yesterday. Everyone else was taken
care of weeks ago, but one person on my list remained stubbornly there until just yesterday;
Josh. What do you get for a guy who’s metaphorically saved your life? I will always owe him a
debt of gratitude for taking a chance on me in Nashua, but I don’t want this to be all about
gratitude either. I like to think that I’ve earned my place here now and that our relationship is
based on more than a personal debt. I’ve learned so much from this man and I hope that the
promise I made to him in Nashua has come to fruition; I hope he finds me valuable.
Anyway, with my list now complete, I finger the bow on the gift I have for Josh before
returning it to my top drawer. I’m waiting for just the right moment to give it to him. I see Josh’s
phone light go out. He’s been talking to his mom for awhile now. Maybe I can get him to go
listen to the caroler’s with me now.
“Josh?”
“Hey.” He looks up at me and hastily covers something on his desk.
“I want to go listen to the carolers.”
“I’ll be out in a second. We’ll go over together.” He offers.
“Okay.” I agree and go back to my desk. It’s only a minute or two
later that he appears with his hands behind his back and his dimples popping out of his
cheeks. He hands me a clumsily wrapped package and I tear it open.
"Heimlich Beckengruber on The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing." I read from the cover.
“It's got a molted calf cover and original drab boards.” Josh says proudly and I don’t have
the heart to tell him I have no idea what that means.
“I don't know what to say.” I admit.
“I wrote a note inside.” He bounces up and down on his feet like he does when he’s excited or
happy about something. So I open up the cover and read silently the words he wrote for me:
Donnatella –
I am speechless when faced with the task of telling you how priceless you are to me. I am
nothing without you.
- Joshua
I start to tear up immediately and turn to the man who is my boss, my friend, and
something else we haven’t figured out yet.
“Donna, don't get emotional. Donna, don't get... let's try and maintain some kind of...” He
trails off as I pull him into an embrace and rest my chin on his shoulder.
“You see!? You spend most of our time being, you know, you. Then
you write something like this to me. Thank you.” I tell him sincerely.
“I meant it.” He says quietly into my ear. I’m not sure how to respond to this situation, so I
rely on our old standby, misdirection.
“Skis would have killed you?” I tease.
“Yeah.” He says in mock indignation.
“Okay.” I concede. He walks back to his office and I should put the gift away, but I can’t
resist one more look at the lovely inscription. It makes me glow. Now comes the fun part. I get
to see Josh open his gift. I open the drawer and pull out the present before sauntering into
his office.
“Since we’re in the gift giving mode, I have something for you too, Joshua.” I hand him the
present and wait anxiously for him to unwrap it.
“It’s a tie.” He guesses while he shakes the package.
“No.” I tell him impatiently.
“The tax returns for the senior Republican on Ways and Means.” He guesses again.
“It’s not work related and it’s not illegal.” I give him the hints for free. Open the present
already!
“The scythe from an Indonesian searching for sorcerers?” He teased.
“No, and that is a true fact, Joshua.” I’m losing the Christmas spirit here. “Open it!”
“You’re kind of sucking the fun out of this, Donnatella.” He laughs. He’s laughing at me!
“Never mind.” I snatch the present out of his hands. “I’m sure I can find someone else
who will appreciate my gift.”
“No, Donna, wait! I was just teasing. I want the present, I really do.” He gets up and
blocks my way out of the office. “Give me another chance, please?”
Against my better judgment, I hand the present back to him and he rewards me with a
smile. He doesn’t make any other snide comments or guesses but slowly unwraps the
present. Now, I’m bouncing on my feet. It must be contagious.
He opens the plain brown box and his jaw drops. He reverently pulls out a signed Mike
Piazza jersey.
“How did- Where did- I’m speechless.” Josh admits and it was worth every favor I begged
and inconvenience I endured to see the look on his face right now. The speechless part?
That’s just a bonus.
“It took 2 months and 9 degrees of separation, but I know somebody who knows
somebody who works for the Mets and…well with a little of the negotiation skills you taught
me, I scored this!”
“Woman, I’m sending you to the Hill.” Josh says only half-kidding. “This is incredible.
Thanks!” And just like that I score a second hug, too. I figure since this was such a joyous
moment I could drop the rest of it on him.
“You’re welcome. We only had to give up just one small thing in
exchange…”
Josh pulls back from the hug and looks at me suspiciously. “What was that? And why did
you just say ‘we’?”
“Well it is your gift Josh.” I remind him. “The only person I couldn’t barter or pay off in this
elaborate chain was a man who’d like you to give his son’s school group a personal tour of
the White House.”
“Okay, I can handle that. They’re not little kids are they?”
“No, high school seniors.” I hastily assure him. “Let’s go hear the carolers.” I pull on his
arm to get him out the door and distract him.
“That’s no big deal, Donna.” He assures me and slips on his new jersey over his dress
shirt and tie. “What’s the group?”
“I’m sorry?” I pretend not to be able to hear him over the music, but he follows me and
repeats it a little louder.
“What’s the group? You said he was with a group at school.”
“Oh, that…” I venture right to the edge of the crowd. He can’t hurt me in front of all these
witnesses, right?
“Yeah, that. Which group? AP Government? Debate team?” he guesses.
The choir end with “slee-eep in heav-en-ly peace..” just as I respond. “Young
Republicans.”
“Donna!” he shouts and every head in the place turns to look at him. “Donna, aren’t they
wonderful?” He adlibs and starts the applause as I laugh. I am SO going to get it for this…
This is our first Christmas in the White House. To say that the White House gets into the
spirit of the season a little would be like saying Congressmen like earmarks a little. The
decorations, the food, and the music are amazing! All we’d need to add was Santa Claus and
it would be like coming to work at the North Pole every day. I love this season. I love
everything about it, but most of all I love the presents.
Presents are the most important part of the season; and not just getting them either. I
love finding just the right thing for all the people in my life. I start in early October and keep
track of who I need to buy for and what I need for them. I don’t always buy presents either.
Sometimes I’ve been known to make something for someone, but since we moved into the
White House there really hasn’t been much time for that. So I’ve had to purchase almost
everything this year.
I was finally able to check the last person off my list yesterday. Everyone else was taken
care of weeks ago, but one person on my list remained stubbornly there until just yesterday;
Josh. What do you get for a guy who’s metaphorically saved your life? I will always owe him a
debt of gratitude for taking a chance on me in Nashua, but I don’t want this to be all about
gratitude either. I like to think that I’ve earned my place here now and that our relationship is
based on more than a personal debt. I’ve learned so much from this man and I hope that the
promise I made to him in Nashua has come to fruition; I hope he finds me valuable.
Anyway, with my list now complete, I finger the bow on the gift I have for Josh before
returning it to my top drawer. I’m waiting for just the right moment to give it to him. I see Josh’s
phone light go out. He’s been talking to his mom for awhile now. Maybe I can get him to go
listen to the caroler’s with me now.
“Josh?”
“Hey.” He looks up at me and hastily covers something on his desk.
“I want to go listen to the carolers.”
“I’ll be out in a second. We’ll go over together.” He offers.
“Okay.” I agree and go back to my desk. It’s only a minute or two
later that he appears with his hands behind his back and his dimples popping out of his
cheeks. He hands me a clumsily wrapped package and I tear it open.
"Heimlich Beckengruber on The Art and Artistry of Alpine Skiing." I read from the cover.
“It's got a molted calf cover and original drab boards.” Josh says proudly and I don’t have
the heart to tell him I have no idea what that means.
“I don't know what to say.” I admit.
“I wrote a note inside.” He bounces up and down on his feet like he does when he’s excited or
happy about something. So I open up the cover and read silently the words he wrote for me:
Donnatella –
I am speechless when faced with the task of telling you how priceless you are to me. I am
nothing without you.
- Joshua
I start to tear up immediately and turn to the man who is my boss, my friend, and
something else we haven’t figured out yet.
“Donna, don't get emotional. Donna, don't get... let's try and maintain some kind of...” He
trails off as I pull him into an embrace and rest my chin on his shoulder.
“You see!? You spend most of our time being, you know, you. Then
you write something like this to me. Thank you.” I tell him sincerely.
“I meant it.” He says quietly into my ear. I’m not sure how to respond to this situation, so I
rely on our old standby, misdirection.
“Skis would have killed you?” I tease.
“Yeah.” He says in mock indignation.
“Okay.” I concede. He walks back to his office and I should put the gift away, but I can’t
resist one more look at the lovely inscription. It makes me glow. Now comes the fun part. I get
to see Josh open his gift. I open the drawer and pull out the present before sauntering into
his office.
“Since we’re in the gift giving mode, I have something for you too, Joshua.” I hand him the
present and wait anxiously for him to unwrap it.
“It’s a tie.” He guesses while he shakes the package.
“No.” I tell him impatiently.
“The tax returns for the senior Republican on Ways and Means.” He guesses again.
“It’s not work related and it’s not illegal.” I give him the hints for free. Open the present
already!
“The scythe from an Indonesian searching for sorcerers?” He teased.
“No, and that is a true fact, Joshua.” I’m losing the Christmas spirit here. “Open it!”
“You’re kind of sucking the fun out of this, Donnatella.” He laughs. He’s laughing at me!
“Never mind.” I snatch the present out of his hands. “I’m sure I can find someone else
who will appreciate my gift.”
“No, Donna, wait! I was just teasing. I want the present, I really do.” He gets up and
blocks my way out of the office. “Give me another chance, please?”
Against my better judgment, I hand the present back to him and he rewards me with a
smile. He doesn’t make any other snide comments or guesses but slowly unwraps the
present. Now, I’m bouncing on my feet. It must be contagious.
He opens the plain brown box and his jaw drops. He reverently pulls out a signed Mike
Piazza jersey.
“How did- Where did- I’m speechless.” Josh admits and it was worth every favor I begged
and inconvenience I endured to see the look on his face right now. The speechless part?
That’s just a bonus.
“It took 2 months and 9 degrees of separation, but I know somebody who knows
somebody who works for the Mets and…well with a little of the negotiation skills you taught
me, I scored this!”
“Woman, I’m sending you to the Hill.” Josh says only half-kidding. “This is incredible.
Thanks!” And just like that I score a second hug, too. I figure since this was such a joyous
moment I could drop the rest of it on him.
“You’re welcome. We only had to give up just one small thing in
exchange…”
Josh pulls back from the hug and looks at me suspiciously. “What was that? And why did
you just say ‘we’?”
“Well it is your gift Josh.” I remind him. “The only person I couldn’t barter or pay off in this
elaborate chain was a man who’d like you to give his son’s school group a personal tour of
the White House.”
“Okay, I can handle that. They’re not little kids are they?”
“No, high school seniors.” I hastily assure him. “Let’s go hear the carolers.” I pull on his
arm to get him out the door and distract him.
“That’s no big deal, Donna.” He assures me and slips on his new jersey over his dress
shirt and tie. “What’s the group?”
“I’m sorry?” I pretend not to be able to hear him over the music, but he follows me and
repeats it a little louder.
“What’s the group? You said he was with a group at school.”
“Oh, that…” I venture right to the edge of the crowd. He can’t hurt me in front of all these
witnesses, right?
“Yeah, that. Which group? AP Government? Debate team?” he guesses.
The choir end with “slee-eep in heav-en-ly peace..” just as I respond. “Young
Republicans.”
“Donna!” he shouts and every head in the place turns to look at him. “Donna, aren’t they
wonderful?” He adlibs and starts the applause as I laugh. I am SO going to get it for this…
