Card Karma

She’s notorious for calling at 6 a.m. to wish me happy birthday every August 5th, but this year, my mother, (or Mommy, as my sister and I have always called her) took it a step further: she sent a “care” package a week prior.

Stuffed with childhood favorites, including her homemade pecan brittle, the box had another surprise nestled inside. Tucked away alongside boxes of Goobers was my birthday card. Once I opened the sentiment, it took me back ten years ago to my spiritual awakening and the advent of my psychic work.

A decade ago, I was living in Louisville, home of my last corporate assignment. One evening while in bed, I awoke and said, “Why am I seeing a little red wagon?” The next morning, I flew to my home state of Alabama, where Mommy picked me up at the airport.

As the car’s air-conditioner circulated coolness to beat the southern heat and humidity, Mommy said, “Reach in the backseat and get your birthday present. You might as well go ahead and open it now!”

After retrieving the handsomely wrapped package, I first opened the birthday card next to its green bow. On the cover was a boy pulling a little red wagon! Stunned, I spoke up: “I saw this last night!”

The little red wagon quickly became a metaphor for life for me: As a child, I placed my dreams, aspirations and goals in it and have pulled it along through the years. Sometimes, the wagon gets rusty, a wheel falls off or even misplaced, but it’s always there. I’ve incorporated the reference into my work – even dedicating a segment on my cable access TV show, “Southern Soul,” to the little red wagon.

This year, history repeated itself; my mother found a new variation of the little red wagon birthday card! As I admired it, the card served as reminder that I am pursuing my path and destiny.

So what else was in the care package, you might ask? Pistachios, Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, six cans of Underwood Deviled Ham, Little Debbie Nutty Buddies and Luzianne Tea Bags.

“I tried to add your favorite cereal, Cap’n Crunch, but I couldn’t squeeze him into the box,” Mommy said.

Love and light,

Tony

The little red wagon shows up again on my birthday card!