The gift I didn't get

Fruitcake? Not me! Candles are more than a light

The gift I didn't get

Greeting and Welcome

Every year there was something special that I wanted for Christmas.

I remember wanting a horse. Not a pony, a real live horse that I could ride like in The Black Stallion. Sigh. It didn't happen and with good reason since I had trouble taking care of a cat. But I wanted that horse.

How about the year I wanted a clarinet? I wanted to take the free music lessons offered at school but my parents had to provide the instrument. That was the year I learned that money didn't always stretch to cover a son in college and a girl in elementary school's wishes.

There was the year my sister was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and I wanted her to be well again. She learned to care for herself and I learned good things don't always happen to good people.

Food's ready

There was the Christmas I was seven months pregnant and huge as a whale. I wanted that baby to arrive, but he stayed with me until February. Happy Birthday, Stephen.

Christmas was a time for planning on how to make the money go far enough. I wished for enough to buy everything my children wanted, but it never happened. I made jars of mint jelly (green) and crab-apple jelly (red) to give to their teachers. I knit slippers and mittens because hand-made things were less expensive. I saved so they could make a list to Santa and I promised to get them three things off that list. They got them, but it wasn't always the most expensive items.

I wished to finish my manuscript by Christmas but didn't. Shoot.

For years, I wished for my daughter to come home for Christmas, but Alaska was too far away.

This year I wanted to have my entire family gather for the Holidays. That ain't going to ever happen. My son with the christmas tree farm is still working. The grandson in the navy's submarine put into Groton so he came with his sweetheart. My granddaughter in the Air Force was flying to Colorado. My grandson in Florida started a new job at SeaWorld and couldn't get the time off. The grandson in College surprised me and brought his girl-friend. My son in Virginia couldn't take any more time off, but I'll see him in a couple weeks. Every year I wish the same thing. To have us all together again. Maybe next year.