Each year, churches, hospitals, and malls have Giving Trees and Wish Trees that have cards with a child’s name on them. One tree in particular sticks out in my mind. It was full of names of children whose parent or parents are in jail. The tree has a card with their sizes and interests on it like any other giving tree. However, instead of the gifts coming signed from an anonymous angel, the gifts come signed from their parent in prison who cannot be there with them on Christmas morning.
I do not have children of my own, even though I admit to having a few toys. I like this kind of giving, because it makes you feel like a kid again picking out just the right toy. I remember being a kid and circling Western Barbie and Dolly Pops in the Christmas Wishbook. I remember being an adult (just last Christmas) and my cousins, who are also range in ages from eighteen to forty were playing more intensely with the old race track at our grandparents than the “little kids” (my cousin’s three boys) were. We are also guilty of confiscating the legos.
In fact, I think Legos are a great gift for the Giving Tree because if a child already has some, there is no embarrassment in duplication because it just means they can build something even bigger.
In non-Lego news, I also saw that there are these mickey mouse cars where all the pieces of the garage can be configured in different ways. Donald and Mickey also come in pieces to be assembled. If it were me, I would probably have put Donald’s feet on Mickey’s body. That’s just how I roll.
The gift that sort of is the weirdest is Brian the Brain. He is a virtual roommate along the lines of teddy Ruxpin because he can talk, combined with Alfie (remember Alfie?) who you can play games with, but only more responsive. He is supposed to be the kid’s annoying roommate who has strange expressions of speech and get’s to “know” and interact with your kid. However, he isn’t a roommate who pays you rent because he is not cheap! In otherwords, you pay for his friendship. Maybe I should get one so he can remind me to do stuff and also make me able to drive in the car pool lane. Good roommates watch your back.
Have fun this Christmas playing with….um…I mean….buying toys for the Giving Tree.
Blue is one of the “calendar girls” in Saving Shelter Pets’ annual calendar. Money raised goes towards their wonderful programs that fund pulling deserving animals from their last day at kill shelters, to proactive solutions like spay and neuter programs and the Puppy Promises program that keeps puppies out of shelters.