Taking A Back Seat At Christmas
Wednesday - December 20, 2006
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Del.icio.usOne of the great things about Christmas is that we get to enjoy the holiday performances of our children. There is no better holiday entertainment than watching our kids sing or dance. The current star of our house is our 9-year-old daughter.
She’s been a natural entertainer since she was born. She participates in all these extracurricular activities - choir, hula, gymnastics and Tahitian dancing. For the holidays she’s had to perform in a bevy of public venues. Naturally, the family was there for every one of them.
My wife is a backstage mother and recently was tapped to help out our daughter’s hula halau for a Christmas performance. That meant we had to be there early. My job was to find good seats for our parents, who arrive later. I found great seats, so I bought a large coffee and guarded the chairs.
After a half hour, all available seats were taken. The coffee I drank was also taking effect and I had to use the bathroom. Finally, I could-n’t wait any longer and I turned over my empty coffee cup and rested it on the seats between two of the chairs.
When I got back, I found a woman sitting in the seat, and she had her purse and some bags on the other. Either I would argue a few minutes with this woman or else face the wrath of my wife for the rest of the day. My choice was obvious.
I told the lady that I was reserving the seats and that I just stepped away to use the bathroom. She refused to relinquish the chairs. I then used a great analogy: “If you’re shopping at Foodland and have a shopping cart full of groceries, if you step away, even if you haven’t paid for them yet, they’re technically still your groceries.”
She shot back, “Christmas tree touching rules - on a tree lot, the tree belongs to you as long as you’re holding it or touching it. Once you let go, it’s anybody’s game.” I fired back, “I’m invoking Vegas slot rules - an overturned cup or bucket on the machine reserves play.”
We paused and noticed that everyone was watching us. Suddenly we both erupted in uncontrollable laughter. I insisted she take the seats and she wanted to give them back. In the end we all got seats, and like that famous poem goes, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
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Let’s not forget that our country is at war, and that there are men and women separated from their families who don’t have the ability to enjoy the Christmas season in the same way we do at home. Remember to pray for them:
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