Our two oldest children always have some unrealistic items on their Christmas lists.
Jase is just three so he’s still pretty much happy with whatever he gets and will likely spend more time playing with the boxes and wrapping paper on Christmas morning that the actual toys. Those long cardboard tubes that hold wrapping paper are excellent for sword fights by the way.
Last year James had a “real monster truck” at the top of his list. I actually kind of liked that idea. I’d get to drive it for a few years at least.
I was excited about the prospect of being a monster truck owner and perhaps even starting a new career traveling the country with James to compete in monster truck shows.
Then I discovered that those trucks cost more than our house, so my dream – and James’ of course – quickly faded.
This year one of James’ top wishes was a pig, and although pigs are much cheaper – in fact there are some folks trying to give them away – that is an equally unrealistic request. Our family has been blessed with many things, but free time and extra money rarely make appearances on that list. The time required to care for another pet and adding another mouth to feed led to that request being vetoed immediately.
Then there is Elsie. This is a girl who always dreams big, but to her credit, she isn’t greedy. Last year she told Santa that he could bring her Daddy a new truck too. Unfortunately Santa was apparently unable to figure out how to get that truck down the chimney.
Elsie’s requests are wide-ranging from barbie dolls and princess costumes to fishing reels and hunting clothes. It’s not unusual to see her in a pink dress standing barefooted in the mud on the side of a pond with a fishing pole in hand.
The lists of things they want seems to get longer each year, but one that was certainly on no one’s list was the flu. In fact if we created a list of things that we definitely do not want, I’m sure the flu would be near the top.
But James’ gift came early as he was diagnosed with the flu after running a high fever and looking as weak as I’ve ever seen him. James is the kind of kid who only has two speeds – wide open and sleeping. When he’s not up and moving around you know something is very wrong.
As I write this column the rest of us have so far managed to avoid the flu – although Jamie has a case of bronchitis that doesn’t look like fun.
We’re praying that James recovers before Christmas day, and that none of the rest of us get it.
I can’t imagine having to miss gathering with our families to celebrate Christmas. As I’ve gotten older that’s much more important to me than even the most thoughtful gifts.
The flu is one of few things I can imagine keeping us away from spending Christmas with our families. It looks like Jamie and I will be giving each other Tamiflu for Christmas.
And since I’m the kind of guy who can always see a bright side to any situation, I think I have come up with a great new holiday song if I can persuade the Elvis Presley estate to let me borrow a few lyrics.
“I’ll have a flu Christmas without you...You’ll be doing alright in your Christmas of white, but I’ll have a flu, flu Christmas.”
