They do not go shopping, other than the rare trip to Pet Food'n More. They do not drive around looking at light displays nor, do they listen to the radio or pay much attention to TV - except for the sound of the elevator bell on Murphy Brown. The air is thick with anticipation as they wait. They watch our every move like hawks. Any sign that we may be approaching the storage room results in a mad scramble.
Bodies fly everywhere as they check each other out of the way.
The object of their desire rests inside a box of Christmas decorations. They know that anytime now, it will emerge and mock them from its position on high. It all began several years ago when an elderly aunt presented us with a rather unique Christmas gift. It was a comical looking mechanical Santa, standing 14 inches high and carrying a large brass bell in its hand. We flipped the switch and, in a manner similar to Tim Conway's old man character on the Carol Burnett show, Santa shuffled across the floor while a medley of very loud carols played.