Many of today's toys seem to exclude the parents while isolating the young players in their room connected by wires to their television set or computer screen.
We had a great get-together at my aunt's home last week. I enjoyed the visiting, card playing, domino game and sharing photos and remembrances of times past. It's always interesting to find out what everyone has been doing since the last reunion. The gift exchange is always fun as well.
We all hope to get gifts we want for Christmas, and we want to give gifts that will be enjoyed and/or useful. This time of year we get to hear and tell favorite traditional Christmas stories, sing songs about Santa and his reindeer or celebrate our religious preferences.
Keeping the myth of Santa alive for some children seems almost impossible when we see their living conditions on television. In a world torn with war and poverty, it's often difficult to imagine someone giving people their heart's desire for Christmas.
Then I got to thinking, what would I give to people if I could be Santa? What would you consider the right gifts to give if you could circle the globe and give gifts to every living person? Think about it for a while. Now these gifts should be tangible. Not "singing in perfect harmony" or conversion to one religion or political theory.
Maybe the first things should be the basics. If I could give the gifts I wanted to give to everyone in the world here is what I would choose to give.
First, fresh drinking water made easily available. There are many places where there isn't enough water to drink, and other places where the water is polluted or so far away a person has to travel for miles to access it.
A place to live would come next. They wouldn't all have to be two-bedroom ranch style houses either. Apartments would be fine. But they would have to be homes that could not be forcibly taken from the people living in them. Homes without outrageous rent or mortgages attached.
Another thing too, is they would have to be homes that were heated in the climates needing heat. Solar heating would be great. Even better would be houses like the 'earth homes' where the climate is controlled by the thick walls, solar panels and piped water.
I would give each person access to a plot of land to grow a vegetable and flower garden. This land could be shared with other people, but each person would have their own uncontested part of the whole.
Each person living in a cold climate would have warm clothing, enough bedding, and a good coat to wear.
Let's see, that's covered food, water and shelter. Ah yes, each child could enjoy their childhood with a neighborhood playground and local school. I would give each person a globe, a true replica of our planet and an atlas with photos of each country taken from space.
Computers and Internet access would be available free to all whether at their public libraries, schools or homes. I think the gift of communication with the rest of the world would be a terrific gift to give.
For those over 16, I'd give them a job that paid at least an average wage and that kept their interest and made them feel they are contributing to their community.
I'd give each town, village, or neighborhood a park with a bandstand and walking trails and lots of benches and tables so people could come together and play games, talk, or just be around other people.
Since I'm a genealogist, I'd give everyone a copy of their ancestry chart, not simply of his or her bloodline, but of all his or her peripheral family connections as well. When they shared these with friends they would discover that somewhere in the family is a link to everyone else. That might be the best gift of all.
Until the next time friends remember; we all like playing Santa and giving gifts to our friends and loved ones. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could really be Santa for just one day? How would you change the world? What gifts would you give?