Dear Santa–

I have a small list this year:

1) I want you to stop people from proudly spouting, “I hate Christmas!” as if joining some cool secret society. Make them stop saying, “Bah Humbug,” with a proud and superior smirk. Make them stop and think about why they hate Christmas, and then maybe make them try to do something about that. And, maybe, just maybe, make them look at the people who still love Christmas and the kids who still believe with every fiber of their being that Santa Claus is real, and maybe suggest that if they help add to that joy, that belief in the wonder of Santa and Reindeer and love and giving, that maybe Christmas won’t be quite as hateable.

2) I want a bicker-free Christmas. No bickering about who goes to whose house when. No whining about who should call who first. No bitching about the fact that no one ever comes to visit. I just want a nice friendly Christmas where I can watch my daughter and my step-grands open their presents without the grownups–young and old–finding some reason to be dissatisfied.

3) I want people to remember that joy begets joy and misery begets misery. Please remind them that if you are pleasant to be around, then more people will want to be around you.

Santa, I know that there’s not much chance of me getting everything on my list, but any little bit you can do will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Diana