Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Gifts

I'm sitting here looking at the Christmas tree. The tree sits in the corner of the living room, near the bookshelf. It's a little crooked, but it makes the angel on top look straight. There are ornament's missing and the tree skirt is behaving very immodestly. I scowl a moment, readjusting the ornaments in my mind.

The kids have done this. They love to sit in the corner, read books, and whisper to each other. A breeze of frustration furrows my brow. But then I look down and see, among the board books and picture books, is the big red Dictionary I've had since college. And I realized: I may not be able to afford to get them the latest and greatest gadgets and toys. But I can give them this: a memory. I started to see our future: They will be in college (Harvard) and too serious about their studies to date, so no boyfriends. They will be home for the holidays and we'd be sitting around the fireplace and one of them would get lost in thought while looking at the Christmas tree.

"Hey, Sister," Lucy might say, "Do you remember when we used to sit behind the Christmas tree?"

We'd all have a laugh and feel very warm. I'm pulled back into the present and begin to reapprise the Christmas Tree Situation. Let it lean.

5 Comments:

Blogger GETkristiLOVE said...

Precious! The mental picture of them in the corner that you'll carry for years is the best gift of all.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:25:00 PM

 
Blogger SkylersDad said...

That is a great mental picture of their future, how sweet. Allow me to alter it just a tad...

College wasn't much fun so Lucy enrolled in truck driving school and met her dream guy, full body tattoos and a name like Louie "the ice pick" Jones.

Breath Flan... Breath!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007 12:31:00 PM

 
Blogger Joe said...

What a beautiful moment!

You reminded me I need to get off my dead ass and go find a tree this week while I'm still on vacation.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007 2:47:00 PM

 
Blogger Cap'n Ergo "XL+II" Jinglebollocks said...

what if your girls are off in Jamaca for Christmas break to shake their boo-tays for the lastest Girls Gone Wild taping?? what then??

Wednesday, December 05, 2007 3:17:00 PM

 
Blogger Dale said...

Beeyootiful. That's made me feel the spirit of Christmas is alive.

Saturday, December 08, 2007 1:04:00 PM

 

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