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Since I am a senior, I have a few suggestions to offer. I'll be seventy next year, so I speak from experience. One thing to remember, please don't ask me on the spur of the moment what I want; I won't be able to think of a thing. Many of us older folks have well-seasoned minds which work just as well as they ever did, but perhaps a bit more slowly. I like to think that's because there's so much knowledge, and so many memories stored in there, it takes a while to locate the appropriate information. Here's what I'd really like for Christmas:

1.) A family Christmas Day celebration, in which nobody's fighting and everybody shows up. Even if everyone is not feeling totally amicable, could you just pretend, for the sake of your dad and me? We may not all have that many more holidays together.

2.) You know those grocery list pads that stick on the fridge with a magnet? I could use a dozen of those! See earlier comments about slow memory. I forgot to mention forgetfulness.

3.) We got a VCR last year, but never figured out how to work it. I would love a certificate for one hour of someone's time to explain it again very slowly. See that I take notes to refer to after you leave. Make me set it up myself several times so I really understand.

4.) I would love to get involved with E-Bay! Hey, I think I could even start a little business buying and selling stuff on line. Since the computer and I are hardly what you'd term "well-acquainted", that would cost some generous soul an hour a week for a month. I hope you don't think that's being greedy; you know I'd share any profits with my grandchildren.

5.) Speaking of grandchildren, we love it when you drop in with them for a visit. I realize everyone's busy with their own lives, but could you commit to a visit, say, every two weeks? A note to that effect under the tree would make it seem that Christmas was going to last all year.

6.) I've started back to Weight Watchers on the urging of the doctor. You know what? All the scales in Canada show your weight in kilograms- what a crock! I need a scales that weighs in pounds. I know that would entail a trip over the border for someone, but I'd really appreciate it; so would the doctor. He gets really grumpy about the weight issue.

7.) Our dog is getting on in years, just like us. Soon it will be time to send her to that big kennel in the sky. I don't have the heart to take her on that last trip to the vet. I worry about your dad, with his heart condition, having to do it. Could one of you offer to take her when the time comes? We would be forever grateful.

8.) I miss the days when we were all together and life was busy and interesting. Remember how I used to nag you all about always being on the phone. I think at one point we even had a schedule as to who could use it when. You can phone as much as you want now- please do. I`ll even be glad to get e-mails! I am a thoroughly modern mom. (Well, almost-)

9.) If you`re bound and bent on buying something, anything warm and fuzzy would be most welcome- slippers, a robe, a sweater. Please stick to bright colors, just because we`re getting on doesn`t mean we have to be totally dull.

10.)Sharing your time, your attention, and your lives with us is the best present you can give. You have already gifted us by becoming fine upstanding adults of whom we can be very proud. We never tire of relating your kindnesses and your accomplishments to our friends. We sincerely hope that when you become seniors you will be fortunate enough to have children as loving and caring as ours are.

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Tytler.
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