Christmas came early today.

While Meg and I were finishing our breakfast this morning someone knocked on the door.  I put down my coffee and walked into the hall to see who it was.  Once I noticed no one was around, I looked down and got the best early Christmas present ever.

Ham.

Lying at my feet was a large white box marked Burgers’ Smokehouse.  More reading told me that the package was from California, Missouri and was sent by Grandma and Grandpa.  Since my grandparents have absolutely no connection with the southern United States I was perplexed.  A bit more investigation revealed that although the box was addressed to our apartment, no one in my home goes by the name of Alessandro.  A call to the office and a quick resident check made it certain—the ham was ours!

Apparently, Burgers’ Smokehouse is a big deal down in Missouri.  They’ve been in business since ol’ E.M. Burger cured 1000 hams in 1952 and were the first country cured meat company in the nation to receive federal inspection in 1956.  Harry S. Truman even gave the Burger boys the Grand Champion Ham Trophy at the State Fair in ’55!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.  I tried to find out where you wanted this hickory smoked ham to go, but no one by that name lives here and I don’t have enough room in my fridge to keep that big box refrigerated until I can mail it back to Burgers.  Rest assured knowing that this luscious hunk of meat will be prepared with the utmost care and every last morsel will be savored.  What more could a ham ask for?