Saturday, November 14, 2009

Mollie's List Part 3

OK, this is the last post, I promise. Read the first two before you read this one. Here is the conclusion, I think.

"Mommy, help me write this to Santa:

Dear Santa,
I would like a fruit salad for Christmas. Please make it in the shape of an elephant marching. Thank you very much. Merry Christmas. I want some play doh too.
Love, Mollie (age 5)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Mollie's Christmas List Part 2

Scroll down to Mollie's Christmas list and read the first part of the story before you read this post to get the full picture.

So, yesterday evening, I said, "Mollie, we really need to write Santa a letter so you can tell him what you want. And I know you really would like a real Native American or an almost dead baby, but I called Santa and told him about it and he said he couldn't give you either of those things. I also told him you would settle for a fluffy white dog but he said he was all out of dogs this year. So, I want you to think of something else, a toy or something, for him to give you. Here is a piece of paper so you can write it down and we can mail it in an envelope. OK?"

And so, Mollie sighed and said, "Well, if I can't have those things that I really, really want, I guess he could just bring me fruit salad."

"Huh?"

"Fruit salad! It's may favorite."

"What about a toy?"

"I already have toys! I don't have any fruit salad!" Mollie exclaimed as she crossed her arms and did a mighty big huffy breath at me.

"All right, all right. You can ask him for fruit salad but will you be sad if all your friends get new Barbies and games and all you get is a fruit salad?"

"I will just tell Santa he can bring me whatever he wants but if he doesn't bring me a fruit salad, I will be sad."

"OK."

"But I still want a Native American."

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Happy Fall, Y'all

This is my favorite season. The leaves were at their peak last week. Now, they are all falling. I really feel so small but part of something greater when I stand outside as hundreds and hundred of leaves swirl all around me. And the sky...so blue and clear, when it's not raining, of course. We have had record rain fall this year and it is still coming! It's raining right now. The trees have been happy and have rewarded us with a brilliant display of color. Then, we get to crunch along pathways with the new carpet of foliage, hiding all the undergrowth which will make surprise appearances this spring. We don't fight the leaves. We let them be, the way our wonderful creator designed for their special purpose of giving the ground a blanket and providing nutrients as they eventually crumble and become one with the earth again.































Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mollie's Christmas List

OK, so I asked Mollie what she wants for Christmas this year. I told her we need to make a list and mail it to Santa Claus this weekend. Her eyes lit up and she smiled really big and said, "I know exactly what I want for Christmas! I want a Native American!"

So I asked, "Do you mean like a Native American doll?" And she proceeded to tell me what she meant:

"No, Mommy. I want a real Native American. It's a person and some people call them Indians, but their real name is Native American. I want Santa to go to their land and bring me back a five year old Native American girl for me to play with. And Native American's swim in the river so me and my Native American can swim in the river together. We could play together every day and I would just love her so much!"

And I said, "Well, Mollie, Native Americans are just like you and me...they have families and you can't just take them away and keep them like pets."

And she said, "Well, her whole family could come live with us too and they could bring all their stuff and live in our back yard."

So I said, "Sweetie, people don't just live in other people's back yards. It is cold in the winter, so I am sure everyone would like to stay inside."

And she said, "Well, they could bring their Teepee and lots of blankets."

Then I said, "Mollie, Native American's are just like us...they live in houses and go to school and work. They don't live in teepees."

So, Mollie said, "OK, if I can't have a Native American for Christmas, I really would like a new baby."

And I said, "I hope you mean like a baby doll."

And of course she said, "No, I mean a real baby. I will ask Santa to find me a baby that is almost dead and he can wrap that baby up and bring her right to me and I will love her and take care of her and she can be my very own baby."

Then I said, "Oh, Mollie, that can't happen. I don't think Santa can find almost dead babies and if he could, he would find grown up Mommies and Daddies who could adopt them."

And then she said, "All right, then how can I have my own baby in my tummy?"

So I said, "Oh, Lord, child! Can't you ask for something more practical like a new bike, a Barbie or a new game?"

Mollie said, "I don't think so. I've been good and all I want is a Native American or an almost dead baby. I don't want anything else. So, I will write to Santa and tell him to just plop one or the other down the chimney. Don't worry, Mommy. I can handle it."

And I said, "I don't think that is going to happen."

So she said, "OK...how about a new puppy? I want a fluffy, white puppy and I will name her Puff Ball."

And this is how children con their parents into getting them pets. I mean, if getting a Native American or an almost dead baby is out of the question...surely a new dog is no big deal.

"Mollie, it is time for bed. You really wear me out sometimes."