I remember as a kid, that the only time wishes do come true would be around Christmas time. It seems that the season itself is 'conducive' to wishing. And that we where told, if we wished really hard for it and wrote it down, it might come true. To help us along, there's this Santa Claus that we have to write our wishes to. And he'd be jolly enough to deliver our wishes the night before Christmas.

Looking back through the years, I find those days amusing, at the same time I felt it was cruel to do that to kids: to have them believe in Santa Claus, when you can just ask your kids what they wish to receive before the coming new year. As a kid, Santa Claus was revered. As an adult, Santa Claus is just like Ronald McDonald, or Hamburgler, or Jollibee, or Hetty--a mascot. A seasonal mascot. You now believe in the spirit of Christmas and not in something you see that reminds you of that spirit.

This year, before the year 2008 flew by, my brother, Ton, and his wife, Leng, showered us with that spirit. It started about 2 months ago when Ton asked us our 'wish list' for 2008 (See? If my brother can ask us what we wished for, why can't parents just ask their kids for a wish list, instead of telling them to wish it from Santa Claus? Wouldn't it feel so much better to receive thanks directly from your kids than give Santa Claus the credit for giving gifts which he didn't even take the time to shop, buy, wrap or give directly to your kids?).

I had been eyeing a netbook. An Acer Aspire One netbook to be exact. I had already bought Jing her laptop and my next project would be to get a netbook for myself. I figured I really didn't need all that power and weight to bring to office with me just to fulfill my computing needs and so at that time, a netbook suited what I want regarding mobile computing. But having to buy my own netbook would have to wait as I haven't yet finished paying Jing's laptop in full. So when Ton asked me what I wished for, I jumped the chance to 'wish for a netbook' ;-)

I admit, I didn't hold my hopes high. Because after I told Ton what I wanted, he didn't say anything more. I didn't know if he was shocked at what I wished for and couldn't grant me that wish, or would suggest something below what I wished for. It was just silence. And for a few days I mulled over it, thinking that maybe I went overboard with my wish list, and that it would literally be turned into a wish and nothing more.

There was a time that I thought about taking my wish back, and wish for something much lower in value compared to a netbook: like asking for my favorite scent, Perry Ellis 360 degree Red 100ml perfume, or an MP3/portable video player, or something along those lines. But then again, what if my brother and sis-in-law did get me a netbook for Christmas? It would then be a 'waste' to let the netbook go in exchange for a signature scent or something other than what I really wanted ;-) So I held onto the thought that I may, at the same time, may not, get what I wished for. But at least, it would be 'the thought that counts' ;-)

Imagine my complete surprise when, the night after my brother Ton and sister-in-law, Leng with their three kids flew in to the Philippines from Texas, USA, Ton asked me to inspect the laptop backpack Jing wished for from them. Inside, I found the Acer Aspire One netbook in its own sleeve. Down to the color and specifications of what I wanted in a netbook! I was a kid again. The feeling of waking up in the morning, all excited to see a gift written with your name on it, under the tree and opening it up. I got goose bumps just by holding the netbook and taking it out from its sleeve. It felt like I struck gold, hahaha! ;-)

Wishes do come true. And Santa Claus doesn't grant it nor make it happen. People do--those that love you. To my brother Ton, and sister-in-law, Leng, and their kids, thank you so much not only for the blessings in kind but for the time you've spent with us, here. God bless you for being a blessing to others!