My Grown-Up Christmas List

Dear Santa,

I realize this list is coming a little late, but you’re supposed to be magic, right? This is the season for believing in miracles – that’s what people say. So I’ll go out on a limb here and ask you for all the things I want most this Christmas.

For Mom and Seeser, I’d like some job security and peace of mind. I’d like them to worry less about me and about the future. Please bring them health and happiness this holiday season.

For J., I want uncompromised joy, and an understanding that he is loved and cared for, beyond anything he could imagine. I wish for glad times with good friends surrounding him. Please take away his doubts, and replace then with hope and faith in life and good people.

For Lady M and SwingDaddy, I wish so, so many good things this Christmas. I wish for safe travel in the snow, I wish for laughter and love and togetherness with family. I would ask you to bring them both some peace in this hectic holiday season, amid the stress and the worry. Especially once Bubbers opens his noisy Christmas gift from Nanny Lara, they could probably use some blissful silence, too.

For Tpiglette and Baleeted, I would like to ask for easy, hassle-free wedding planning. More than that, I hope they have fun together, planning the ceremony that will begin their life as husband and wife.

For Her Bad Mother, I hope for a refreshing time with family and loved ones – a time to celebrate life and love and all the miraculous things the two can bring.

For Mom101, please bring a wholehearted enjoyment of all the agony joy and wonder of pregnancy, and supportive friends and family to listen to her whining love her unconditionally through it all.

For Mocha, please deliver a shit-ass-ton of good karma, because she deserves it like no other. I would also ask that you sprinkle oodles of goodness over those of her students who may not be able to enjoy a Christmas like the ones on TV. Give her a fun holiday with lots of mojitos and laughter with her awesome family.

For Mrs. Chicky, I have but one simple request – please grant her one whole day without any Chicky Baby tantrums, even when the baby girl has to wear that horrible adorable suit. Just one day.

For Caffeinated Librarian, I would like you to bring comfort and inner peace. A resurgence of strength and pride, and a calmer work life than she seems to currently have. And a resolution to family struggles that can leave everyone… well, if not happy, then at least content.

For Aly, I’d like more shoes. Because if she doesn’t have enough shoes to fill a month, that makes me and my shoe hoarder-ness sad. Also, a Hooters tank top. And safe and joyous preparations for her trip to New Zealand.

For Sassy Student, I wish for a renewed sense of self-confidence and motivational drive. I wish for the ability to keep perspective on herself and her actions, to remember that she’s a great girl, and that the future holds many possibilities for her.

For Lilit, I wish for a sense of calm, and peace, and a feeling of rightness, just where she is. And if she is meant to move on, I wish that you would help her find her way, wherever that takes her. And most of all, I wish for snow.

For Sunshine Scribe, I want the gift of sunshine, of course! But instead of just tossing a sunny day down for her, maybe you could give it to her through the smiles of her hubby and Little Sunshine. She shares the gift of time with her family, so maybe you could just give her a little bit of extra time, for her to spend on herself. Oh, and help her to go a bit easier on the self-criticism about The Book.

For Teacher Jane, please give some safety and security. I’m scared for her and her time at work, what with all the dangerous stuff she’s been dealing with lately. Please give her an understanding of the important role she plays in her students’ lives, and a sense of peace despite the craziness around her.

I guess that’s about it, except for… oh, me. I need forgiveness, and peace, and acceptance, and understanding, but I don’t think you can give me any of those things. I fear they need to come from me, and I fear I can’t give them to myself yet. So while I sit here, stuck in this place, I ask instead that you bring these gifts to all these people I love, and bring joy and love and happiness to the so many others I am thinking of and sending good thoughts to tonight.

With faith, and hope, and even a little bit of belief in magic,

Lara David

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Day 24 of LaBloShoeMo: The Monkey Slippers

As I said before, my family's traditional Christmas Eve gift was always pajamas. Three years ago, Seeser gave me Care Bear pajamas, and last year, she gave me these. Now, before you go getting all antsy on me, understand that I'm not showing you my slippers because I don't have enough shoes for 31 days. In fact, I'm strongly considering putting multiple pairs on for the last couple days, just to get all the ones I like into the month (and that's ignoring things like plain black or white flip-flops). At any rate, I just think these slippers are really cool - they were my first pair of open-toed slippers! - especially given how well they match my monkey pants. Remember this post? Well, these are the pants that started it all. They (and the matching tank top) are so comfy! And monkeys? Always a good idea.