An extraordinary event

Ordinary days can be surprising; the unexpected can spring out of even the most commonplace settings. Case in point, a Thursday evening a few weeks ago. As usual, I went over to my parent's house for dinner. My mother was busy in the kitchen, my father was working in his study and I was throwing my coat and shoes in their laundry room. It was a scene that has been played out week after week. But this was not an ordinary evening - it was extraordinary.
As my mom chopped away at some vegetables on her cutting board she casually asked me when my lease was up at my apartment. This did not seem like an unusual question; it seemed very much like an inquiry similair to "how is your day?" Little did I know that this question would lead to an amazing piece of news.
I answered that I had no idea when my lease was up. "Well," my mother said, "You will want to find out. Your grandfather wants to buy you a house."
I've had more than one extraordinary moment in my life. Despite all the time that has past since the moments occurred I will never forget even the smallest details. When the ship pulled away from the port in the Bahamas to begin Semester at Sea, when I bombed my first story assignment at my first newspaper job, when my sister got married. And here, very unexpectedly, was another - the day I learned I would get a home of my very own.
My grandfather's offer left me feeling speechless. To be surprised with a gift so immensely generous will make you mute. I still search for the correct words to say how incredible this gift is and how touched I am by my grandfather. And I stumble with my words every time. Truth be told, there are no words to describe what my grandfather has done.  It is too great, too wonderful and too profound.
I will say this, though. That particular Thursday evening definitely showed me just how spectacular an ordinary day can be.