Sarah Nigbor

This is my favorite time of year. One reason is I get to read all the Santa letters from our area first graders that we publish in the Pierce County Journal. Each year, one or two popular toys emerges as top dog, while phones (sigh) and cash are also popular requests. It never fails that a couple of wishes bring tears to my eyes, especially when a little child asks for something warm for their parents or food for their table. It reminds me that I’m pretty fortunate. I have a warm house to shelter me, my children are healthy, my husband and I have jobs and we all have each other.

Sometimes deciphering the letters can be tough, and if the teachers don’t translate, I try my best. I’m usually pretty good at it, I think. I just try to remember that kids will write words how they sound – literally. That usually works. Once in awhile with the usual toy requests and tearjerkers, there’s a hilarious request – sometimes unintentional. Or you can blame the translator who can’t read. For example, one year I thought a kid was asking for a lady of the evening. It turns out they wanted horses. You can see why I thought what I did when you learn horses were spelled “whors.” I laughed until I cried. The joke was on me. Hopefully Santa is better at translating than I am, or some parents will be shocked at what they find under the tree.

Since Christmas is a scant week away (eek!), I better write my own list to dear St. Nick. I am behind and haven’t done so yet.  I think I’ve been pretty good this year. I haven’t gotten any tickets or been taken to the Pierce County Jail. I did total my car, but to be fair, that deer leapt out of nowhere, so I hope Santa will understand. Perhaps Santa’s reindeer could teach our deer not to run in front of vehicles, especially at dusk or in the early morning.

The season has been a bit different for me this year. Our kids are all 13 and older now, so no more Elf on a Shelf or visiting Santa at various events. Replacing toys on Christmas lists are gift cards, money, makeup, cars (ha!) and clothes. No Barbies or Legos or stuffed animals. I truly enjoyed reliving childhood excitement with them these past years, but it’s more muted now that they’re older. Everything has a season, I suppose. I wish we could all maintain that childish wonder and excitement. I try, but life has been pretty heavy this year. It doesn’t help that I’ve had uveitis for a week now with vision pretty limited in one eye, plus a heaping helping of shingles.

So here is what I am wishing for this Christmas. I know it’s a long list, but I’m nothing if not thorough.

Dear Santa,

Thank you for bringing joy to all the children of the world. Please know we still love you even if my kids are “too cool” right now for you. That will change when they have their own children. Just give it time.

Here are some of my requests, in no particular order. God might need to help you with some of them. Some are more serious than others, but all are valid.

For Christmas this year, I would like my husband and children to stay healthy and happy. Please help Hubby overcome his stubbornness and finally address his knee and neck pain. And please help my doctors figure out my AS (ankylosing spondylitis) treatment plan so I can stay healthy too.

I wish people could learn to get along, even if they disagree.

I wish people wouldn’t be so quick to call each other names and make accusations around politics.

I wish everyone who needed food and shelter had it.

I wish people read the newspaper more and learned true facts before spouting off on social media.

I wish motorists on Main Street in Ellsworth would stop for pedestrians. I don’t want to die crossing Highway 10. I love Subway, but it’s not worth it.

I wish people wouldn’t talk on speaker phone in public.

I wish more people would learn to use grammar properly, especially on social media.

I wish Snapchat would go away permanently into a deep, dark abyss where kids can’t use it.

I wish McDonald’s fries made people lose weight, not gain weight.

I wish for peace for all.

Thanks Santa. It’s a long list, but I hope you can help.

Sarah (a true believer at age 45)