I was just thinking about Christmases past. Can you ever top one like when you were ten or something? Probably not. A lot of them blur together, and I admit that my husband and I more times than not just agreed to spend our money on the family and forego our own presents to each other, and it was okay cause we were feeling the love.

But a few presents stand out!

I remember going to visit my grandma in Webb City, Missouri when I was four or five and staying next door in my aunt's house. Christmas morning I had an unbelievably soft stuffed (UNBELIEVABLY REAL) animal kitten, a farm set with barn, tractor, animals, bales of hay, etc., and a doll WITH CLOTHES. This was the most perfect Christmas. I still was totally dedicated to Santa Claus (I was in my most intensified Santa Claus period - I would stand at the window of my bedroom on Christmas Eve and look and look like all of y'all) and my dreams came true. I remember what these items looked like completely. It's like it was yesterday.

When I was fourteen I got a Montgomery Ward Jumbo Western Guitar under the tree, and it changed my life. It changed my life! I carried it around on my back everywhere I went.

When I was fifteen I got a lariat and spent all of Christmas day at the end of the street roping the street sign. It helped me later when I needed to roll up cords.

Now this Christmas I have gotten a tiny infant basset hound puppy. Wilhelmina is her name. She is fearless and precious and will require all my time for awhile.

Merry Christmas to all, and I hope you got something to answer your dreams, change your life, and take up you time.

I will post a picture soon because I suspect she is very photogenic.