Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Santa, Are You Listening?

Today was a no school day here on the plain Plains in our town. Both kinders were home. And more of the same manana. We knew the snow storm was going to be serious because the school board of our town NEVER declares snow days...much less two in a row. It's an old timey, mid-western, buck up buckaroo kind of thing. In fact, the kids don't even get a break in the mornings whilst waiting in line for school to start, in the winter. It has to be 15 degrees, or less before they will let them go inside to wait. As many of you know, I grew up in Florida and never once waited in line OUTSIDE below 45 degrees. Tougher birds in this snow prone place, for sure. But on the other side of that stick is the Summer heat. Whankers here turn on the A/C at the mere mention of anything above 75 degrees.

So it snows, we dig out, it snows, we dig out...at least until noon or so tomorrow.

All of which leads me to share this with you. At some point in our cabin fever day, my youngest daughter who is in kindergarten and learning to read/write/and do simple math things, ask me if Santa really has a naughty list. I answered that I thought so, yes. She asked, would hitting, scratching and saying shut up be naughty things? Definitely I answered.

That was the end of the conversation.

A few hours later she was sitting across the room from me and asked, how do you spell Santa. I told her. A bit later she asked, how do you spell trying? T.R.Y.I.N.G. I said. More time went by and she asked, Dad, how do you spell give? G.I.V.E.

I didn't think too much about it as I was reading and not really paying attention. I was aware though that she had gotten out her color pencils and was drawing. Later she came over and said dad, can we send this to Santa. She presented me a piece of paper on which was a message and a drawing. Here is the piece of paper (to be mailed tomorrow to the North Pole):



It is a little difficult to read her "person in learning writer words" so let me translate. Dear Santa...I trying to be good. Please! Santa (drawing of her and her sister ((prone, for some reason)) a Christmas tree and Santa himself) and then the closing statement:

GIVE ME A BREAK

God I love 'em.

34 comments:

Toby said...

That is priceless... be sure to keep it. Frame it and put it out as part of your decorations each year - its a treasure! :))

Mr. Charleston said...

Adorable JJ. God yes you love 'em. One of my favorites from my youngest daughter, when about the same age as yours, when told to "behave", replied, "I am being have."

Punch said...

Thanks for sharing that moment of bliss.

Bob said...

I love that!
Give me a break!

Jon said...

Ah, this is wonderful... sure Santa will be able to give her a break too!

;)

Holte Ender said...

Great story.

One night I came home and was met by an almost teary little girl, saying: "daddy, mommy said she's going to tell you about me," "what about?" said I, she came back "I don't know, but I didn't do it."

Lou said...

That's a classic JJ - aren't kids an absolute joy?

mo.stoneskin said...

The parting phrase sounds like it comes straight out of her father's mouth.

the walking man said...

Santa said three days probation, sentence suspended for time served.

uamada said...

I think that is just about the cutest Xmas story i have heard this year. fantastic

The Peach Tart said...

I hope Santa gives me a break too.

Doug said...

My first smile for the season, J.

Kyle Leach said...

Thanks JJ, that is absolutely precious. What a joy. Give me a break. LOL. I'm grinning ear to ear.

jadedj said...

O---Good idea. Thanks.

Mr. C---I love that story. They cut right through it don't they.

Punch---Welcome bro.

Bob---Pretty good chance Santa will, too.

Jon---Yes indeed.

Holte---Har har har. How can you punish that.

Lou---I don't know how I ever got on without them.

mo---Could be. This is the same little girl that told me recently that some of her classmates are paranoid. I asked her if she knew what that word meant. She said no, but that I (me) say it a lot.

walking---That's a good assessment. Her Santa is a softy.

uamada---Thanks dude. Glad you stopped by, haven't heard from you in a while.

Peach---Are you telling us you are on a naughty list? Tsk tsk.

Doug---Glad it made you smile :)

Kyle---I am always pleased when people get a smile from my children's actions.

Steph said...

I do not envy you nor miss this shit. ONE of the best things bout living in Georgia is not having to bring the snow shovel inside cuz you have to tunnel out. Here's to hoping for an early thaw!

jadedj said...

Heidi---You are clearly a person after my own heart.

Stephen said...

I love the letter to Santa... & it is my sentiment too- "Santa, I am trying to be good".
You win in the winter contest! I feel bad for complaining about Portland's cold snap.
Best wishes for the Holidays!

jadedj said...

Stephen---Glad you like the letter...hope it brought a chuckle. No need to apologize...14 is still dang cold.

Karen said...

Sooooooooo cute... your daughter is a sweetie!

jadedj said...

Karen---Thank you...she is that.

jadedj said...

Kate---Glad!

Anonymous said...

Delightful! The young lady has her head firmly attached to her shoulders -- and at such a young age! She's thought of everything: 'splainin, pleading, charming, threatening (ever so subtly, via prone sister and the dangerously leaning tree), and finally shrugging it off -- "give me a break." And, diplomatically, she did not mention scratching, hitting, and saying shut up.

She'll go far in life, mark my words, you proud Papa. :)

BTW, we must be Midwestern neighbors, given your description of the geography and local weather.

Uh-oh... What if you live next door and I dumped all that snow on your driveway? (I swear I thought you guys were away on vacation until spring. I am so sorry!)

Anonymous said...

LOL! I just realized that the figure in the center is Santa, not our precocious little authoress (who happens to be prone alongside her sister). This changes the dynamic somewhat, but still, extremely cute, all.

Give me a break. That's one of the most heartfelt and straightforward Christmas messages/wishes I've ever heard. From the mouths of babes...

jadedj said...

Elizabeth---she does keep us smiling, if not laughing. Quite the comic this one.

I have since found out that she is asleep with her sister in the drawing. Awaiting presents galore. Her problem now is trying to figure out HOW Santa gets in the house...she is not buying into the chimney theory. She informed me that Santa is far too large to do that. He must have a key or sumthin'.

As to the snow photo. Unquestionably that is not me in it. I have a red snow shovel for just such contingencies, lest I be lost forever.

Anonymous said...

You know, JJ, I too have always suspected that he must have a key or sumthin' (especially sumthin'). C'mon, he can't get in through the chimney! One, he is too fat, everyone can see that, and two, he is not that stupid... -- is he?

Glad it's not you buried in the photo. My guilt trip is much shorter now.

Harlequin said...

two comments: out of the mouths of babes...
& genetics is a scary thing....
thanks for this one.... sweet and delightful

intelliwench said...

This gave me a severe case of the warm-fuzzies! I don't doubt for a second that her request will be granted.

boneman said...

I've been telling Santa to give ma a break for a long time.
A really LOOOOOOONG time.
I'm not sure he speaks English well enough to understand that word in that context.
Two years ago, he broke my mower.
Last year he broke my maul (to chop wood with)
I'm really afraid to keep asking him because about the only thing left to break is...oops.
Sure enough.
I'm broke.
Dang! I KNEW I shouldn't have asked him!

jadedj said...

intell---don't you love the fuzzies? I know why you think that, and I am certain that it has to do with your fuzzies with your beautiful intellikid.

bdb---Maybe this will help:

Dear Santa,

I recently broke my oops while, well...just suffice it to say, I broke my oops. Please Santa, can you replace it for me on your next trip down this way. I am sure you know how important my oops is, and how much I use it, not to mention miss it.

So S, just like that little girl over on the plain Plains, could you give me a fucking break?

Hope this helps bone.

jadedj said...

Harlequin---oops, just noticed that I went right by your comment...sorry. Glad you liked it.

Leslie Parsley said...

Oh my. It made me weepy because it reminded me of mine when they were that age. It was only yesterday - now they're in their early 30s. Enjoy every moment of it, even when they're bad.

BTW, I bet my husband was older than you when we had our first. He was 57 and I was 36. A great time was had by all.

jadedj said...

Leslie---Absolutely. Before my daughters, I never really thought about children, and certainly having them. As your husband did, I then met someone considerably younger and children were in her plans. Once I warmed up to it, and our first one came along, I fell hopelessly and unrelentingly in love...in a much different way. Now I wonder how I ever lived without them. Good or bad, they are beautiful.

BTW-your hubby wins (nope, not revealing nuttin' else :) )

I am so very glad you stopped by. Please stop again.

Punch said...

Just because you are paranoid, does not mean they are not after you.

jadedj said...

Punch---They are definitely after you, Boy. With dogs. Mad Dogs. And Englishmen.