Chet Fitch was an inveterate practical joker in life. But when the 88-year-old died in
Ashland, Oregon this past October, he saved one last laugh for his family and friends.
They all received Christmas cards from him this year, despite the fact he's been gone for more than two months. Not only that, but the cards contained a return address of "Heaven." At least 34 of the greetings arrived in the mail prior to the holiday.
They contained bizarre messages like this one:
"I asked Big Guy if I could sneak back and send some cards. At first he said no; but at my insistence he finally said, 'Oh well, what the heaven, go ahead but don't (tarry) there.' Wish I could tell you about things here but words cannot explain.
"Better get back as Big Guy said he stretched a point to let me in the first time, so I had better not press my luck. I'll probably be seeing you (some sooner than you think).
"Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
Chet Fitch."
Was it an Xmas miracle and if not how did Fitch manage to accomplish his special delivery? This kindest cut of all came from the senior's former barber. For the better part of 20 years, Fitch has been giving hair cutter Patty Dean an updated mailing list and enough money to account for the rising cost of stamps.
He told her to send out the special cards to the people on the list the first Christmas after his passing. And he likely knew it was coming. He always chided that she must be getting tired of the set-up for the joke with no payoff. But in another strange twist, two months ago he told her she'd probably be able to use them "this year" - and then he died a week later.
She carried out his long planned secret and the cards written in Fitch's own handwriting arrived in the mail just before the holidays.
The recipients may have been surprised by the cards but not by the man who arranged this final ultimate practical joke. "All I could think was, 'You little stinker,'" chuckles Debbie Hansen Bernard, who knew Fitch for 25 years. "It was amazing. Just so Chet, always wanting to get the last laugh."
Most of us get Christmas cards and keep them for a while. The lucky few who got them this year from Chet Fitch are likely to hang on to them for a lot longer, as a reminder that people sadly die - but friendships and a good sense of humour never do.