	December 1997

Christmas

By Pete Moore

Pete Moore is a historian, patriot and frequent op-ed contributor to Tapping Technology. He can be reached for comments, responses, or debate at United Cerebral Palsy of Frederick, MD.

I wish for a lot of things for Christmas and each year what I wish for is different than the Christmas before, while other things I wish for are the same as everyone else.

One thing that would be nice to come true is that wars, crimes, and prejudice would be wiped off the face of the Earth forever. That hunger and deprivation be a thing of the past and that children everywhere would know the meaning of joy and happiness.

I'm deaf for a long time now, but I remember what the sound of laughter and glee is coming from a child when she/he open up their presents on Christmas morning. Seeing their smiles, whether toothless or not, is the biggest gift any adults can get for Christmas.

I can still remember going to both my Grandmothers' houses for dinner and getting more presents as any kids looked forward. I still remember that baseball pinball game my Great Uncle Frank gave me. Later, as I got older, I learned that Uncle Frank and Hollywood's silent movie western star, Tom Mix, grew up together in DuBois, Pennsylvania, where my mother, Janet Morrow, was born in 1922.

Probably my favorites toys were action figures. (Dolls? I guess you could call them that!) "Captain Action" was my favorite, because I could pose him in many different way and he came with many Super Heroes costumes and masks. " Superman" and "The Lone Ranger", because they were big back then way before " Batman", X-Men and others became popular. The Flash Green Lantern and Green Hornet were big at that time. Well, my oldest sister was playing with my action toy and making him do ballet stuff. My toy broke. I never forgave nor let her forget that, to this day.

Those toys were large compared to what they make today. I never lost any pieces that my toys came with. They were about 12 inches tall , and would have lasted longer if my sister hadn't played with them.

Books were the second things I got. I never read a novel before going to college. I read mostly baseball and American history. Now, I don't have any desire to read best sellers (except Jurassic Park.)

Clothes were something that was in demand because I grew a lot as a kid and Mom had to buy new clothes for me and my sisters. Now that I'm 44 years of age, and without my mother, who passed away in December just 2 days before Christmas. Doesn't quite feel the same without her or my Grandparents around this time of year. Now I wish for things that bring back fond memories of days that can never return; a time when Mom, Grammy and Granddaddy were alive.

I still wish to meet famous people who I have admired and respected for a long time. Ann-Margret will always be on top of my list of people to meet and hope to be friends with. Another is Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight and Christy Martin, who is the reigning female boxing champion. I always thought Robert Wagner was nice and seemed to be friendly to everybody. Well, those are some of the people I would like to have met. If it were possible I would love to meet Tanya Tucker and Reba McIntyre.

For adults like myself wishes don't come true. Everything I ever wished for as an adult never came true and I don't expect it. Christmas is for children, so they say. Our wishes probably never come true, but deep inside we hope, just for a moment, that anything is possible. There is one thing I really wish for, but it will never come to pass. I wish I could have my mother back. I miss her more than anyone else.

There is this guy I know who is forever complaining about his mother and family. He wants to leave them and be on his own. He doesn't realized how lucky he is having someone to look after him and care for him. One day he'll find out how lonely he'll be when his parents are long gone.

Be thankful for what you have and wish for good things for them this Christmas.

Pete Moore

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