Those 70ish Girls

When my brother Billy was a little boy, he told Dad, “I’m not going to tell you what I got you for Christmas, but you’re not going to have to use that old knife anymore.”

One Christmas, I was determined that Mom’s Christmas present from me was going to be the biggest one under the tree and it was. It was a plastic laundry basket. I remember how hard it was to wrap. The paper must have cost much more than the huge basket did.

One of my co-workers told about her grandson standing in line to sit on Santa’s lap. It was a rather long line, and the child was somewhat perturbed by the time his turn came. Santa of course asked him what he wanted Santa to bring him. The little guy sighed and said, “I just told you last week at the mall, plus I wrote you a letter. I’m not telling you again.” Poor Santa. Poor embarrassed mommy.

Remember Suzy?

My oldest son was four, when we traveled from Wyoming to Draper, SD to spend Christmas with his grandparent’s. At the very top of his letter to Santa was a spider-man bike. We were so proud that Santa was going to make his wishes come true. Santa’s helpers spent a long time putting the bike, (complete with training wheels), together. We were all excited to watch him discover the shinny new bike under the tree Christmas morning. He was so happy! He said, “Look! Look! my spider-man bike!” He then looked around the room and said, “Where’s all the rest of my stuff?”

That’s the danger of writing letters to Santa. I guess Mom and Dad didn’t make it clear that you give Santa a list of “ideas.” That way there will still be the element of surprise. Besides, Santa can’t always find, I mean, the elves can’t always make what’s on the list…in time.

I called my son Craig yesterday and told him what we had gotten his 5 yr old daughter. He said, “Oh good, she’ll love it.” I asked him to spread the word around so no one else will get it for her. He said, “They won’t mom. You’re the only one I told she wanted it.” I said, “You didn’t tell me she wanted it.” There was a moment if silence on the other end. I knew he was trying to remember who it was he did tell.

This year, our three year old grandson, Hudson asked for a Christmas tree, so I guess there will be a Christmas tree under the Christmas tree.

 I’m hoping as you read this, you will be thinking of your own favorite Christmas memories and funny stories.

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to draw numbers for a Chinese gift exchange. One year, our granddaughter Nikki got some lip gloss, which was something she really wanted to keep. Someone else took her gloss, so Nikki had to choose another unopened gift. It was a Santa Claus mug. When I was growing up, I loved my Santa mug and drank hot chocolate from it every Christmas morning. When I saw the long face, I said, “Nikki don’t you like your Santa mug?” She said, “I don’t usually drink from things with faces on them.” We have never let her forget that, and every year someone usually gives her another Santa mug.

I wish I had time to look through all the Christmas pictures we have so I could look through them and decide which one has been the most special. The truth is, in some small way, they have all been the most special .

My memory twig is decorated with things that have special meaning to me, like the close pin reindeer and plaster ornaments the kids made years ago.

I know many of us are also reminded of loss during the holidays. I read a quote in my friend Judy’s blog the other day that meant something to me.

“Everything has a crack in it. That’s how the light gets in.” Love and blessings to all of you this Christmas.