Christmas brings more of the same

Can you believe how fast time is going these days? I still have most of my shopping to do. I can’t put it off much longer because most of what we buy goes to the Texas bunch. We depend on the post office to deliver Christmas presents as space on Santa’s sleigh is at a premium this year. The travel bans seem to change every day, and it is safer for us to stay home.

This past week my two grandsons, Jacob and Nicholas, were in quarantine. It seems that somebody who knows somebody knows somebody who had gone to a wedding or something similar. Someone there had the virus that has turned our world upside down. Grandson, Jacob, had a cold so he was tested and he tested negative for the virus. Nicholas hasn’t been tested as he seems to be his usual rambunctious self.

Daughter, Beth, shipped her daughter, Emma, off to stay with her dad until the worst was over. Beth had the week off so she could care for Jacob and Nicholas. I could hear the boys in the background when she called the other day. They were supposed to be doing remote learning and had found it easier to complain than it was to work through the lessons.

After much discussion, Beth got both of them working on what they were supposed to be doing then she stepped outside.

It wasn’t much quieter there. In the background I could hear what sounded like an entire flock of roosters, each attempting to see which one was the loudest. It turned out that she had two roosters. A third one had showed up one day and decided to stay. I am assuming that there were hens also but neglected to ask.

I have yet to buy anything for the boys. I have ordered Emma’s present. If it doesn’t arrive in time I can save it for her birthday in early January.

Beth says to buy Nerf guns and ammo for the boys. I would rather get them something less violent. If I can’t find anything I think is appropriate I may have to accept defeat and arm the grandkids.

I was in line yesterday at the store. I didn’t have everything I was looking for but at least it was a beginning. The two ladies in front of me each had complicated orders. Instead of getting impatient I started a conversation with a boy and his mom who were in line behind me.

He said he was 10 years old, which is the same age as Nicholas. I was looking for ideas on what to get for our grandsons. He said he liked to read. I asked what was his favorite book. He reached into the cart and pulled out “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Like many readers, his favorite book is the next one.

We chatted for a bit and he picked up his book and started to read aloud. He read quite well and explained the illustrations. His mom got tired of our line not moving and she switched lanes. I had been apprehensive about talking to the boy. All I was looking for was information on what to get for the grandsons. These days, talking to somebody else’s children is not recommended. As many predators as there are these days it is best to avoid making eye contact with anyone.

I am planning to finish up the shopping this week. I usually have everything in the mail at the last possible second. With all that is happening I think this might be the time to finish up early.

Christmas will be here before we know it. Thanks to a chance meeting with a young boy I have at least one suggestion for an appropriate gift for the grandsons. They might not be avid readers but given the right book they might like it a little better. If not, there are always Nerf guns.