A few years back, I came up with the idea to make an Advent calendar for my grandchildren and grandnephews and nieces. I had accumulated a plethora of toilet paper rolls, and having once been a kindergarten teacher, I could not bring myself to throw them away. Besides, for a while there, it was so hard to get the toilet paper itself that the leftover rolls seemed like trophies. So, one day, I set about putting a little treat inside the rolls, one for each day of Advent. The calendars were a hit, and I have repeated the process every year since.
The treats aren’t big things – a small toy, an envelope of hot cocoa, a kazoo. Actually, I only did the kazoos one year. The parents requested I take that out of rotation. Same thing with the jingle bell necklaces. Festive, but annoying, so I substituted colored pens and bags of candy and little wind-up elves. I can’t get in too much trouble with those. The mini-presents will continue until Christmas Eve, when the kids unwrap a new fleece blanket to help them snuggle up on the couch and wait for Santa.
I would have loved to have made you guys an Advent calendar, too, but I am limited by this venue and my remaining number of toilet paper rolls, so you will have to settle for a virtual calendar instead. Anyway, here it is, my friends. Start today with #24 and work your way down, one treat each day until you reach Christmas Eve, and if you feel particularly festive, throw in a kazoo.
24: A parking spot right up front at the mall
23: Grocery store shelves full of eggs and sugar and flour … and toilet paper
22: A drive-thru peppermint milkshake
21: When you try on your favorite Christmas dress, it still fits (even after the milkshake)
20: The lights on your Christmas tree all light on the first try
19: All of your online shopping orders arrive on time
18: You don’t draw your annoyingly perfect sister-in-law’s name in the family gift exchange
17: You don’t run out of tape while you’re wrapping gifts
16: Everyone in your book group asks for the recipe for the dip you bring to the Christmas party
15: The church provides the costumes for your children in the Christmas pageant
14: The gingerbread houses for your Girl Scout troop project come preassembled
13: When your child’s grade school band plays “Jingle Bells,” they are all in tune
12: Someone says, “You’ve been working your tail off. Take a break. I’ve got this.”
I’m going to run out of space here before I work my way down to gift #1, but just know that I am wishing all good things for you this holiday season. May you have every coupon code you require, a BOGO deal on everything you need, and on Christmas Eve, may you wrap yourself in a fluffy fleece blanket and snuggle down on the couch with the nog of your choice. You will have earned it.
