No assembly required

Dear friends and neighbors; I am sad to say that for the first time in four years I have experienced a tool-less Christmas. It is hard to believe that I have failed as daddy-claus. I realized in horror just moments ago I endured this Christmas season without turning a single screw on a single mind numbing toy assembly.  I have enjoyed many nights before Christmas, building toys. I find it much more gratifying to play the role of Santa than I would have ever imagined. The enthusiasm of my little boy at 5:30 am on Christmas morning is infectious.

Sadly this Christmas there were no 8,000 piece Home Depot tool kits, or the 60,000 piece Handy Manny Workshop, and not even a million and a half piece kitchen set. It was a very silent night this Christmas Eve. No sounds of ratchets ratcheting, screwdrivers screwing or hammers hammering broke the silence.  I thought it was going to be a miserable Christmas for my son; I lost sleep thinking about how bad of a dad I am. I was pleasantly surprised when I witnessed my son having the time of his life opening presents that had no assembly required.

Technology has taken the place of play things for the most part. Of course there were some Nerf guns, and toy rifles thrown into the mix along with some classic board games. I can’t help but look back on all of the great Christmas Days I spent with my family; getting the chance to relive those days vicariously through my son is the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. It is a gift that cannot be packaged, marketed, or sold.

Barry