Christmas List

I'm terrified of Christmas this year.  My son's list has turned into a book.  It's quite impressive, really, but terrifying!  So much to explain, all based on a lie.  It's depressing me on so many points.  Santa is a lie, I have no money, but even if I did I wouldn't buy it all.  That's the intellectual side.  For the philosophical side, there's the whole issue of junk toys, people in need, get over your 7 year old all-about-me ego, etc.  The good news is the list got so big the pages came out of the staples so it's getting a bit tattered.  I think he figured out what that means.  But of course I don't want it ruined because it's a fun read.  It started out with the Walmart catalog, which he must have instinctively known was coming out that day because we went out of our way on a Saturday to get a paper.  He was so excited.  So he had 5 pages of junk toys.  Then other toy catalogs started to come in the mail.  Even though I canceled everything last year, they came anyway.  And of course he likes to check the mail everyday so he saw them first.  With each catalog the list grew, but the items changed.  Three "good" toy catalogs later, the Walmart items are down to just 2.  I'm so proud of him!  And what's even better is most of the toys are available right here in town on Main Street.  Maybe I could barter for toys???