Christmas was coming on and my poor family had to go through the annual struggle to come up with a good “Santa” present for Dad. This has never been an easy thing to do because, whereas most fathers know their own mind, this Dad behaves as though he’s never even been introduced to his.
One thing I did know is that I long ago left those years behind where I “wanted” things for Christmas. I exchanged those wants for things I needed and the holiday became, for me, an opportunity to stock up on some necessities. The family hit the hardware and clothing stores and played along.
But this year, for some reason, I decided to live a little and ask for something exotic. What that might be, I had no clue, but I relied on my family to figure it out.
To help them, I provided a few hints.
I wanted something sleek and shiny, something in black and white, the colours I grew up with. TV shows were in black and white and I used to develop those kinds of photos in a darkroom at work.
I asked for something simple, something a child could use. It needed to be sturdy and use materials such as wood and rubber, also things I grew up with on the farm, as I slogged around in my rubber boots, helping to build fences and sheds.
I was explicit about one thing. I did not want any electronics, the use of which I would have to master. Nothing that needed to be plugged in, no battery to recharge. No blinking lights, no annoying sounds. Most of all, no instructions.
But I was also living dangerously. I wanted something that probably no other Dad on Earth would open up on Christmas morning. Something that would not be easy to wrap and that I couldn’t guess what was being hidden by all that beautiful paper.
So, here it is. My prize is pictured below. And before you think to criticize my loved ones for their choice, you need to know that I was overjoyed with it and couldn’t wait for the chance to use it.
I provided that chance after supper on Boxing Day and as I plunged away, I thought about what a wonderful family I have.
©2021 Jim Hagarty
