As memory serves me, I was five or six years old. It was a week or so before Christmas, and I came across a closet full of items. The items in question had the appearance of being recently purchased. One item, in particular, stood out to me. It was a GI Joe. I loved GI Joe, and it was the only thing I remember asking for that year. I was very excited to see the GI Joe in the closet, and started visiting it every couple of hours just for good measure. I had a lot of plans for me and “Joe.” I couldn’t wait to unwrap him.
A couple of days before Christmas, my mom started asking me questions about this kid that was the same age as me. His parents were very good friends with my parents. She asked me what I thought he would like for Christmas. I don’t remember what I said, but out of no where she starts asking me if I thought he would like a GI Joe. I recall telling her that I thought he would like it. Then, she dropped the bomb on me: She told me she had already bought him one. The next thing I know, she pulls out my GI Joe and starts wrapping it in front of me. She puts it with some other presents and tells me she’s taking it over to his house the next day.
I walked around in a daze the next couple of days. I could not believe she got him a GI Joe. I knew there was no other GI Joe’s in the closet because I had looked several times. My Christmas was over. The only thing I wanted, and my mom gives it to someone else.
My excitement level was pretty low Christmas morning. Sure, there were other presents under the tree with my name on them, but I knew what wasn’t there. I have no recollection of any of the presents I opened that day except for the last one. It was a pretty big box and when shaken, it was hard to identify what was in it. When I opened the box, it was crammed full of newspaper. There, in the middle of all the rolled up newspaper, was the GI Joe I had wanted. I could not believe my eyes. My mother had really fooled me.
I loved that GI Joe, and I remember having a great time with it. We stormed enemy lines and had harrowing adventures together. It truly goes down as one of the favorite presents I remember getting as a child. Over the years, there were bikes, race tracks, and many other toys that were probably better, but the excitement of opening that GI Joe truly stands out in comparison.
There’s really nothing more to the story than that.
It’s impossible to identify the things you will remember each holiday season, so there’s no use trying. Don’t worry about the memories you’re making, just open all the presents that are offered to you. There will always be something to remember, even if it is the last present.
Happy Holidays from CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas. His primary area of practice is criminal defense. He can be contacted at Bill@JamesFirm.com