On the Wonder Years whenever they’d have a flashback, they’d show old home movies of the family. What I never really understood was who was operating the movie camera when both parents were in the shot? I always suspected it might be the older daughter, but even sometimes she is in the shot. Was there some unseen grandmother who operated the movie camera? These unanswered questions have always plagued me.
My family is bugging me to get my Christmas list together. The only problem is that my wants and needs are abstract. I’ve give you some examples.

• A job. It sounds so simple and straightforward. But it is so difficult. There’s a certain amount of sigma attached to not having a job and looking like a bum. Maybe something will happen sometime.
• Guaranteed Extra Time when I need it. For example if I need to take off for this mission trip to El Salvador, I should be able to without invoking penalties against me. Same way with church camp in the summer time. But I’ve found you can’t always get what you want.
• Installation of Moveable Type on my website. This seems like such a bear to take on. I would love to be able to use this program, but I am not exactly sure how to install it.
• Once Movable Type is installed, somehow convince David Shannon and the other church office workers on how to update the website easily. I’m not holding my breath on that one. It would be so much better if I wouldn’t have to update the church webpage every week. Leave it to the people who actually put together the bulletin.
• Better singing at church. Not everyone is willing to sing. I wish we could persuade some people to sing more and louder. 550+ people should sound much louder and fuller than what is it.
• More friends. I know that friendship is something you have to work at. You aren’t just granted friends automatically. At times I feel like a social misfit because of my lack of close friends.
• Somehow convince those making ski trip decisions to go to North Carolina instead of Paoli. That’ll never happen.

That’s really all I want to for Christmas. I already have enough clothes. Tivo records all the movies that I would want, so don’t buy me any video tapes. Video game systems are over rated. A new stereo would never be used. So like I said. Material things don’t excite me.