Fielder’s Choice - Barry Burleson


Thursday, December 23, 2010
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Fielder’s Choice
By Barry Burleson

Count your blessings

Santa visited the Burlesons last week.

Hopefully, he will be back early morning Saturday, Christmas Day, while everyone’s asleep. I know we will have the milk and cookies ready and waiting.

He came to the house December 13 to personally get Erin’s wish list. It’s something she looks forward to each year.

This year she hopped into Santa’s lap, with a bit of a shy streak, and read to him from a written list, and then just to make sure he did not forget what she wanted for Christmas, she gave him the list to tuck in the pocket of his bright red coat.

Our third grader’s requests are changing, not as many toys, which makes me realize just how fast she’s growing up.

Santa asked her about her big brother Andy – “Is he being good to you?”

“Yes,” she replied.

And he asked about big sister Emma, too.

“She’s been good, too,” Erin said.

She told him Andy was at a basketball game in Hickory Flat. Upon leaving, Santa said he might just have to stop by that gym and make sure Andy was acting right.

Andy arrived home later that night and said, “Hey, Santa was at the basketball game.”

We told him we were not surprised – that Santa had told us he might visit the gym for the game between the Rebels and Water Valley.

Erin started wondering how Santa could make it from our house to Hickory Flat in such a short amount of time.

“He had other children to visit, too,” she mused.

But we reminded her just how fast Santa could get around, thanks to those reindeer.

Santa’s big night is almost here. I’m sure he has the lists of presents for all the children finalized. The elves are extremely busy. And he’s making last-minute preparations for delivery – making sure those reindeer are well fed and rested.

I always like to turn on the TV Christmas Eve night for the late news and get a live report on Santa’s progress. I even remember doing that as a child myself.

Last week we published the “Letters to Santa” in the newspaper, one of our largest editions of the year. Here’s hoping all you parents (of kindergarten, first grade and second grade students) took notice of those special requests.

If not, we still have a few extra copies here at The South Reporter office. And there’s nothing like a little last-minute shopping.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

“Dear Santa: I know this may sound a little crazy but I would like to have a real pig. I would name my pig Bobby.”
“Dear Santa: I want a spider man football. My dad broke the other one.”
“Dear Santa: I hope you have a lot of kids on the good list and I hope you have a little kids on the bad list.”

Odds are you can’t buy all those items on your children’s wish list. That’s OK.

More important than the material things we give and receive this holiday season is spreading holiday cheer to family and friends.

Count your blessings. Be thankful. Tell those closest to you how much you love them. Share a hug. Focus on what matters most. Enjoy the season. Laugh.

From the Burleson home to your home, Merry Christmas!

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