Dylan’s Christmas Wish
November 25, 2006
The kids went to see Santa today. Dylan had written a letter to Santa, and stuffed it in an envelope. I asked him if he had included Thomas and he smiled at me. “Of course!”
I wanted to make sure Santa had our address so I unfolded the letter and this is what I saw:
It reads:
“Dear Santa Claus,
For Christmas I would like Thrillville for X box. Thomas would like some Little People or something like that. I have one wish. I wish Gramma would stop smoking.
Love Thomas and Dylan”
My heart dropped when I read that. I’m sure Santa can cover pretty much anything, but I had to prepare myself for the questions when we actually went to see Santa.
That wish was brought to Santa himself. I thought poor Santa would have trouble with that one. He was wonderful. Perfect even.
He looked at Dylan, and said, “Well Dylan, looks like Santa will have to have a word with Gramma.”
I was then able to follow up in the car with how this was Gramma’s decision and all we could all do was to keep telling Gramma how much we loved her and how we want her to live a very long time. I flipped down the rearview mirror at the next light and said to him, “Look at me Dylan. All those times you said those things to me, encouraged me to quit, and I thank you for it, every day. But ultimately, I had to do it by myself. The same goes for Gramma. I’m glad Santa will talk to her, but it’s her decision honey.”
He nodded silently, smiling at me. I know how happy he is that I quit nearly 9 weeks ago.
Dylan knows Santa cannot make Gramma quit smoking. He knows that Gramma will have to do that all on her own. Let’s hope she does. Thanks, Santa.
Tonight, Dylan and I went to the city park where all the Christmas trees are lit up. We had a hot chocolate and I let him loose with the camera. Here’s what he captured. Gorgeous!
I think he should get back into his photoblogging!
November 26th, 2006 at 1:13 am
Those photos are rad. Really, really good.
My mom smoked for 60 years, from age 14 to 74. I am so so glad she finally quit. Now I can see her and not choke. We spend a lot more time together now. I hope Dylan gets his wish.
November 26th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Karen, that letter brought tears to my eyes and nobody in my immediate family smokes or ever did. What a sweet letter. And Santa…what a great guy. That was the perfect response. No promises, but a reassurance that he would try. That’s the kind of Santa we all need.
Love the tree photo. Excellent!
November 26th, 2006 at 1:21 am
OH, PS… we have Thrillville for XBox and it is GREAT. Even I played it, and I hate videogames! It’s really fun.
November 26th, 2006 at 8:02 am
What a selfless kid! To be thinking about Gramma that way. Awesome! It also warmed my heart to read what he wrote about Thomas. I hope one day that my boys will love on each other that way.
I’m very proud of your gift to Dylan…quitting smoking. He will always remember that he had a part.
November 26th, 2006 at 9:44 am
Great post–love the pictures.
I’m glad you quit smoking–I hope Gramma does too.
I wish my Mom had quit.
November 26th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Those pictures are really beeoooteeful.
And Karen, I love you. Thanks.
November 26th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
What a sweet kid. I hope he gets his wish. My mother is seriously ill with end stage emphysema and COPD. I wish like anything she had quit when we asked her to all those years ago. She does too.
Congrats on quitting! I know how hard it is. I quit when I got pregnant with my second child and it was probably one of the hardest things I ever did.
November 26th, 2006 at 6:35 pm
I am that close to quitting smoking. So, if I can, and I m going to give it my bestest shot, you can tell Dylan that what he said to Santa worked on me. I m not his gramma but he may have saved my life.
I ll let you know how it goes soon.
November 26th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
My parents smoked for most of my life, and I simply hated it. My aunt died of cancer, she smoked also, and now they quit, but it turns out that my dad has a mass in his throat. It might be too late for him, and i wonder–why? I mean, it isnt like they dont know its bad for them, that weve asked them before to quit. For years I had to listen to them hacking and coughing in the morning like they were bringing up a lung–and just now they quit. It makes me wonder if they would have had more time and more health if they had quit twenty years ago.
November 26th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
Atta boy.
Sniff Sniff
…and as for you…
Good job! Feel proud, you deserve it.