#19: ice skates

for many years back when i was a teacher, if kids asked me what i wanted for christmas i always said ice skates. i'd tell them if they saw santa at the store, to tell him that's what i wanted. i'd play this up all through the month of december, in part so that i could model for the children the gracious behavior necessary in january when you have not received your heart's desire and you know that you probably won't now that christmas is done. then one year i got this ornament that a mother made because, after sharing many years and many children with me, she knew i always asked for ice skates and never got them. i hang this up every year because it still makes me laugh that i finally got my skates.