In my last post I mentioned these, in fact, they were supposed to be the main focus of the whole thing, but, best laid plans and all:
I want to go on and on about them but, I don't feel up to it. It occurs to me that what I wanted to say about them may have seemed boastful. You see, I am very happy they don't have mile-long scrolls of stuff they want and what they do want is wholesome and simple. I'd wonder why that is but, I already know, and it's simple: the boys don't watch commercial television. If they do watch, say, Phineas and Ferb or something like Wipeout, say, it's either DVRed or on Netflix. Simply put, they haven't been told what to want.
We emphasize the birth of Jesus and family and all that around Christmas, I suppose that's good, but, seriously - my boys don't know what they are supposed to want.
I think it's cute. I think it is good. I think it is right.
I was saying to Marci on the drive home from the first family Christmas this year at my wife's parent's house that I thought Christmas will never be brought back from the crass commercialism it has become. It's just too great a fuel for rampart capitalism, I mean, you try to make a better economy driver. It can't be done. Buying stuff makes people happy, how are you going to argue that. But, around here, we are sort of, just barely, hanging on to the sacred intent of the day... for now.
Zack wants a LEGO guy and a vest for his favorite stuffed bear, Bear-Bear. Nick wants an elf hat and A stuffet (stuffed) animal crab, in aqua, thank you very much. And a story book "including A horned toad, A kangaroo, A duck And A camel." Part of me feels bad about these simple, dear requests, but, basically, fundamentally, I am proud that they are so sweet and pure and, well, decent.
See there I boasted and I didn't want to... well, actually I did.
Anyway, a horned toad, a kangaroo, a duck and a camel walked into a bar. Who bought the first round?
You know what? A blogger I know, Carter Gaddis at a great blog called DadScribe, wrote this piece, "How an 8-year-old Boy Sees the Universe" and it blew my socks off. His tender and lovingly crafted words make mine pale in comparison. Give it a look if you have time and then you'll understand why I had a such a hard time with this post.
From Marci's "... things you don't expect to hear from the backseat..."
(leaving a Reconciliation Service)
Mom: "Sometimes I think I confess the same things over and over ..."
Nick: "That's why I go to a different priest each time."
Well, there ya go ...
Thanks for coming around today, I know you are busy. Someone asked me at school the other day if I was ready for Christmas, I felt sort of tired of all the busyness and all and, without thinking, I said; "Ready for the birth of a Savior, or ready with all the gifts the boys are getting?"
Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but, it is certainly worth thinking about...
Happy Christmas, if you don't hear from me before then.
My daughter doesn't watch TV either, mainly because we're incredibly cheap and won't pay the extra for a TV package. Which means a lot of movies, repeated over and over again.
ReplyDeleteI find, though, that the biggest obstacle to overcoming the commercialization of Christmas is friends and family who are totally invested in it. In order to avoid the expectation for mounds and mounds of presents, for spending a lot of money and for getting the newest and coolest things, we'd have to isolate ourselves even more and alienate the final few people who like us. It's a bit of a dilemma. I think Tom Burns articulated the conundrum in a recent GMP article.
I know, Neal. I am very alone in my disinvestment around here as well. Thanks for coming by, I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteI think now you have to write a story book about a horned toad, a kangaroo, a duck and a camel. Well done, Bill. Thank you for the kind words.
ReplyDelete