My favorite Christmas memory is when I was in the 6th Grade. Every year, children have their sights set on a few “hot ticket” items. That year, all I wanted for Christmas was a Super Nintendo. I had fantasized for months about playing my very own Super Nintendo. As Christmas came near, forget about sugarplums, I had visions of Mario Kart, Zelda and Street Fighter, dancing in my head. My mind was made up, and I was getting a Super Nintendo that year.
About a week before Christmas, I was outside my house with my friends and we were talking about what we were getting for Christmas. Triumphantly, I declared to them all, “I’m getting a Super Nintendo from my parents, this year.” I was excited! They were excited!! We were excited together!!! We were already imagining all the good times we were going to have playing this game system, together.
Shortly after, I went into the house and my parents were sitting in the living room with a large shopping bag sitting next to them. My mom called me over and said, “Merry Christmas!” And reaching into the bag, her hand searching its contents, she pulled her arm back out with a brand new basketball, in her hand. “Here you go! Here’s your present!” she proclaimed, with a big smile on her face. It’s funny how when you’re a kid, you occasionally have moments where you temporarily lose your mind. Enraged, I threw the ball down and yelled back to them, “I don’t want a basketball! I want a Super Nintendo!” And I stomped off to my room and cried.
Of all my Christmas memories, that is definitely my favorite. Sure, when I think about it, I feel quite embarrassed, but somehow it always reminds me of how much I love my mom and dad. It’s a wonder how parents put up with their children, sometimes. I’m thankful mine put up with me.
You know the funny thing? A few years later, I grew to love basketball. Basketball has become one of my greatest passions in life, actually. I guess sometimes our parents know us better than we even know ourselves.