It was early November when Istarted my Christmas list. I buried myself in magazines looking for things Imight like, searched on the Internet, and window-shopped at the mall. By November18th my Christmas list read:

* Pajama set * 3 turtlenecks

* Newstereo * Slippers (the fuzzy kind)

* Charm bracelet * NickelbackCD

* Angel perfume * Snowflake socks

* Chocolate-coveredpretzels

I reread my list and smiled in satisfaction. Then I walked intothe kitchen and handed it to my mother. She glanced at it and then looked at me.She explained that money was tight this year and we all needed to cut ourChristmas lists. I nodded and brought mine back to my room. I placed it on mynight table, promising myself I would adjust it.

So, after muchconsideration, on November 28th my Christmas list read as follows:

*Pajama set * 3 turtlenecks

* Charm bracelet * Slippers (the fuzzykind)

* Angel perfume * Nickelback CD

* Snowflakesocks

There it was ... my finished list. It seemed reasonable. I decidedthat the stereo was too much money, and the chocolate pretzels weren't anecessity. I marched back into the kitchen and again handed my list to my mother.I watched with anticipation as she looked at it. She turned to me with sadness inher eyes as she again explained that money was very tight and we couldn't affordto spend hundreds of dollars on each person for Christmas. I said I understood asI reached for it for the second time, and headed back to my room.

OnDecember 12th my mother asked for my Christmas list. It was getting late and shewanted to start shopping. I amended my list:

* Pajama set * Snowflakesocks

* Angel perfume * 3 turtlenecks

I decided that was fair.Nothing was too expensive, and it was only the basics. So, for the third time Ihanded it to my mother. She smiled a little when she looked at it. She told me itwas fine, and thanked me for understanding.

The next morning I decided Iwas being selfish. Since November, I had been making a list of things I wantedfor Christmas, but Christmas had never been about presents. They're not the pointof the holiday. So I walked into the kitchen and took the list back again. Thatafternoon my mother opened her bag to find my list. It read:

* Snowflakesocks

* And to spend Christmas with my family.