Dear Santa
I don't think I am going to get anything for Christmas. This isn't a poor-me thing. I actually DO know I AM getting a coffee mug from Oldest Daughter. Because she told me so. Weird thing about Oldest Daughter. She HATES surprises. Loathes them. And even though I LOVE surprises, she tells me what she buys for me the second she does so. Yeah. Weird. I'm getting a coffee mug--which I will definitely use and think of her. I also asked her to play this on the violin and then she wouldn't have to buy me anything.
And I am sure the kids will each get me something small or homemade. I still have every single homemade gift they have ever made me. Because moms are weird that way. But beyond that . . . money is just too tight and Christmas is about my kids. Period. Once you become a parent, you miraculously forget the phrase "what about ME" and it becomes "it's all about them." About Santa and cookies for him and reindeer and praying for snow. Demon Baby is VERY excited this year. THAT'S better than any present under the tree.
However, if I WAS going to have a Writer's Christmas List, this is what would be on it:
1. This.
2. Everything he has ever written, neatly packaged with a bow.
3. A dinner date with him. Come on . . . it's Christmas. I can ask Santa for anything. I am sure, if I DID have dinner with him, at some point, I would spit my drink out from laughing so hard. So then I would need one of these to protect my clothes.
4. I would like them to come and clean my office and get me organized.
5. Them. For Demon Baby.
6. Or her.
7. A first edition.
8. Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.
So what's on YOUR Christmas list?
33 comments:
My husband and I were just discussing this. Long ago, we stopped giving each other Christmas presents but occasionally we'll surprise each other with a "for no reason at all" present. This year we're telling our adult children to go out for dinner someplace nice and then write us a note, telling us where they went and what they ate (and drank) :-) That's their present to us. Nothing else.
What I would really like from Santa is for people to stop obsessing about the crappy economy. There is very little we can do about it anyway.
I lived a hand-me-down childhood; nothing was ever new except underwear. But Christmas was the exception. Even though I'd get a few things, they weren't used.
My wish is that people would appreciate the simpler things in life.
Hi Tena:
What a WONDERFUL idea. That's just really nice. My parents are here staying with me for the winter. They really are at the point in life when they want to get RID of crap. Not accumulate anymore. Usually, we get them small things--thoughtful stuff, like my dad likes pistachios, that sort of thing.
E
kath:
My father grew up with nothing--nebver had a birthday present or party until he met my mother. So when he did get married, Christmas had to be HUGE. We got bikes and dolls and . . . just very, very special. Big feasts.
E
A publishing contract would be nice. :)
Jude:
I'll have Santa add that to his sleigh.
E
I remember the year Santa's factory burned down, you know the one that made the dolls that played ball. I cried my heart out. We were living in Puerto Rico and I suppose they just weren't available there.
This year my youngest son still believes in Santa but he wants a $500 present. I keep telling him Santa never bought me anything that expensive. He replies but he bought Noah and Ethan one. I want to go next door and kick the shins of my neighbors.
Grandmother lived during the Great Depression. I asked her about Christmas and what it was like then. She replied, "I was happy to learn Santa wasn't real because I wondered why he gave other people nicer presents than he gave me."
Richmond:
That is so poignant (about your grandmother). You should write a personal essay on that . . . wow.
Well . . . my kids range from 18 down to 3. So this year, only the 3-year-old believes--but then we all get to vicariously believe with him. And the older kids can understand the economy. They will each get one "big ticket" item and some very small other gifts. But the little guy's wish list is so much less expensive, so there will be lots of things for him to open under the tree.
E
Hmmm, I read Bryson's "A Sunburned Country" this year and it was wonderful. I definitely hope to read more of his books in 2009, once I get out from under reading for the Thriller Award.
As for me, I just bought myself a guitar, so I'm not really in need of much. I don't suppose anybody can give me talent to play it better.
I'd like an MSU hooded sweatshirt. Maybe a movie or two, but aside from that, I'm buried in books, have more music to listen to than I have time to listen, and we're currently pretty up to date on electronica. This year we're focusing on the kids, and the oldest one has already received two pretty large acquisitions--a varsity jacket and another guitar--so he's getting smaller things.
I don't suppose anyone wants to gift me with a new roof?
What a great list. And that song... ugh. It makes me cry every time. I love it.
I have nothing on my list. I haven't even thought about what I want. My parents will bring things when they come in January but I don't need "gifts". I've stopped thinking in that way since moving here.
I just saw Mark's comment and there are a few movies I'd like, so maybe I'll tell them that.
Mark:
Bryson is so witty.
E
Melanie:
On the violin, it sounds SO pretty.
:-)
E
I'm right there with you, Erica... Christmas has been about the kids only, since I had them... and my favorite gifts are the ones they've made me... okay, the CD player/ radio under my kitchen counter was nice, too... I like to blast the radio while I'm cleaning up the kitchen, it makes the time go faster...
But yeah, Christmas is very tight this year and we've told all the extended family that we're just not exchanging - we did a grabbag thing instead, so we only have one gift to buy... and we'll still do the large Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations.. because it's about the kids... and the food :-)
But now that I've read your comments section - I'm with Jude, I'd like an agent who gets me, and a publishing contract to follow.
I'm with Jude. A publishing contract. A great agent would be wonderful, too.
Erica, there's nothing we really "need" these days. We aren't in an acquiring mode. When our kids and Ed's grandkids are around, as most of them were for Thanksgiving (they live in different parts of the country) that was the best gift of all.
Okay, Santa, Ed would like some of his favorite chocolate bars. I would like an offer of representation from a certain agent :-)
merry:
That would be nice for all my writer friends!
E
Erica, I bought a WII a couple of months ago, the WII Fitness, and a few things to go along with it for hubby and I. That was our Christmas present. I thought it'd be a hard to find item, and nabbed it early.
However, the 5 grandkids are the heart of every celebration. With Shannon in Alaska this year, we had to mail them a check. I hated that, but mailing a lot of big packages would be a Christmas present alone...a big one. She's doing the shopping for us on her end, but I'm sending the stocking stuffer items.
I have a few items left to get. Thanks goodness for online shopping since my daughter and I have strep. A granddaughter had it too, but is well now. :)
Falalala! When it comes to the holdiays, it's all about the children. They've always been my presents!
Edie:
It's on Santa's "Nice" list.
:-)
E
LaDonna:
Feel better!!!!
E
I told my husband not to get me anything this year- we have each other, the rest is just extras . ..
I saw a beautiful first edition of Le Petit Prince yesterday at a rare bookstore in Las Vegas- yeah, I know, Vegas, who would've thought?
It's in the Palazzo shops in the venetian, and they had all manner of lovely, drool worthy titles . . .including a couple JD Salingers that I would really like for Christmas, but since I laready had that talk with my husband, it'll have to wait!
If I HAD to make a list? EASY!
I would like someone to clean my house stem to stern while I eat sushi and drink Savignon Blanc while watching the original Miracle on 34th Street.
Ah, what a miracle that would be.
There is no Christmas hullaballoo here because we're Jewish. For Hanukkah my kids get gifts but it's a minor holiday.
But I can totally get behind a Santa that will throw some Merry Maids down my chimney!
My DH has this NEED to buy me something. No matter how much I insist, he does not understand that PEACE OF MIND about our finances is the BEST gift he can give me.
But, I've prepared for it this year. He just loves Christmas, and it pleases him to buy things for me. I suppose there are worse things to endure, LOL. :-)
I go nuts over my nieces and nephew.
PS: Pretty soon, they're supposedly coming out with a "student edition" Kindle, which (from what my shaky memory remembers) will be geared more for non-fiction texts and textbooks, with a bigger screen. Just something to think about, since I know you lean that way!
What's on my list? Nothing as good as David Sedaris. I'd never heard of him. I loved his essay. You've led me to something good today.
A specific piece of jewelry with personal meaning. (way to be vague, huh?)
Alyson:
It is my DREAM to one day habve a first edition of it. But unless my Mega Ball numbers come in . . . not likely.
E
Amy:
Merry Maid ELVES. That's what you want.
E
Spy:
Good to keep in mind, since I mostly want it for physics stuff.
E
Joe:
I kid you not . . . track down his Christmas tale called "Six to Eight Black Men"--it is BEYOND classic. My new favorite Christmas story.
E
Zoe:
I presume TOM knows what it is. LOL!
E
Haha, yes, Tom knows EXACTLY what it is. It might have to wait until after Christmas, but he's got the link haha.
Erica... nothing really for my list, but I would like to send you a present... and I won't tell you what it is :)
ewoh:
Well . . . that's certainly different from my oldest. LOL!
xo
E
A flat tummy. ;-) (It's been years.)
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