A Grandma's Letter to Santa Claus

I haven't written to you in many years. I guess I felt there was really nothing that I needed. But our family has had some very sad losses this year and I have become acutely aware of how fleeting and precious time is and so this year I have a special wish.

First let me explain that my grandchildren are very lucky. As a result of divorces, remarriages and re-affiliations they have 9 grandparents - 4 Grandpas and 5 Grandmas. So being a grandparent to these kids means being part of a crowded field. I'm the mother of the dad who is divorced from their mom. Years ago I made a move to Mobile Alabama from New York City. My son married a lovely girl here and so my grandkids are Alabamians. Now I stay to be near them despite the fact that Alabama and I have never really embraced. We just kind of tolerate each other. But there is nowhere else on earth I could possibly want to be. Everything that matters to me is in Alabama.

Britany recently turned 9. After her party I dug out the pictures of me at my ninth birthday. I remember everyone in the picture as though it was yesterday but they were all deceased. I was 9 more than half a century ago. Life flies by so quickly. Jacob is 4 and wild and active and stubborn and beautiful. When I look at him I see his father when he was his age. Now his dad is balding and has a lot of tattoos. Their mom Ellen has been the daughter I never had. The biggest mystery in my life has been and will always be how my son had the ability to identify this fabulous lady and get her to marry him. I'm so sad they couldn't make it work.

So, what do I want for Christmas this year? Of course, I wish for my family to have health and happiness - and a little wealth wouldn't hurt either. But I'm going to be more selfish than that this year. I want something extra special for myself. I want you to guarantee that my grandchildren will always love me as much as I love them. That in this crowd of grandparents I can be seen as a unique role model. That they continue to need me as much as I need them. And that we can spend every Christmas for the rest of my life together.

These aren't gifts from elves. They won't be in your sack. And I don't really expect you to be able to deliver them to me. They will have to come from Britany, Jacob and Ellen. But now they know what I'm wanting for Christmas.