Uh-oh. I think I'm becoming a grown-up.

The tradition in my family has always been to ask for general ideas (or, even specific ones) of what kinds of things one might like for Christmas. With a very busy season, work-wise, for most of my family, no one has had any real time to go Christmas shopping. As a result, those questions are being asked with a little more urgency.

I keep a running wish list on Amazon.com and CDNow.com to keep track of the material goodies I hope to purchase in the not-too-distant future. Push come to shove, this can act as a kind of idea-generator for people who are looking for gift ideas for me. But, as I ponder the question "what would you like for Christmas?" -- I realize that the things I most want aren't material at all... and can't be granted, anyway. They involve work *I* have to do.

Here's what I want for Christmas, not in any particular order:

* I want to stop putting my foot in my mouth. I don't think I commit these doozeys too terribly often, maybe only once or twice a year, but it's always a spectacular gaffe with spectacular consequences. I want an antidote for foot-in-mouth disease.

* I want to complete my first novel, and I want it to be a work that I can be proud of... and I want to sell it, to a major publisher if possible, *soon*.

* I want to be a better friend to my friends, a better husband to my wife, a better brother, son, grandson, son-in-law.

* I want to become a father.

* I want to win the writers contest I entered recently.

* I want to get a few short stories published this coming year.

* I want my family and friends to remain happy and healthy. Oh, and me, too.

* I want a new Subaru WRX. Or, maybe a Miata.

With the exception of that last desire, these are all more like New Year's Resolutions than they are gifts that can be wished for at Christmas.

So, there it is. I'm officially old.

What's on *your* Christmas wish list?

--Allan