Sometimes it is best to just not ask too many questions...

An anvil?

We are not big on Christmas. First of all, we just don’t have the resources to pull it off. Secondly, while we celebrate the love of family, giving, kindness, etc… all of the time, we are not always in a position to mark a super special day of celebration on a calendar and stick to it. Sometimes, we have more to give to ourselves and to others in let’s say…the spring. We like being flexible about this sort of thing. And finally, without the religious part of the holiday it is just something we are not on board with value-wise. But we still do the occasional thing or two if we can afford it, and we feel like it adds to the love in our family, etc…

So, inevitably, every year we ask Bug what she would want to get from someone like Santa if Santa were so inclined to bring a present to our home. And every year she totally blows us away with her simple, heartfelt requests. One year she simply asked for a yo-yo. Another year, she requested a small wooden wind up toy. Last year, she wanted some nuts and bolts so she could pretend to put things together. How could we deny such humble gifts? So every year, she has received these simple things and treasures them.

This year when the question was posed–without a second of hesitation– she responded: “I want an anvil”

Me: Huh?

Her: Like the ones they have in cartoons!

Me: Ahhhh. Like in Animaniacs. I see.

Her: Yes. A real anvil.

And she merrily skipped off to enjoy the rest of her day.

Sir Hubby and I pondered this one long and hard. Did she want to drop it on someone’s head? My head? One of the cats? Did she want to use it as a weapon? Does she want to be a metal worker? Will she condescend to make jewelry for me if she does want to be a metal worker? What was appealing about possessing an anvil? She adores the Animaniacs and admires that they are often much more clever than the so-called “grown-ups” or “historical figures” they interact with in the show. We are always careful to remind Bug that the violence of the show is intended to depict how unrealistic and non-human the characters are and that no behaviors displayed in the show are acceptable for ANY real life situations. She always nods appropriately at these reminders, however, it does not stop her from laughing raucously at anvils and pianos dropping unexpectedly from the sky and onto the characters noggins.

So time passes. Bug does not waiver from her initial request. As in years past, even exposure to the highly influential TV/Magazine/Toy Store aspect of our culture does shake her desire to possess an anvil.

Me: Hey, look! A remote control 3-foot dinosaur!

Her: Cool! But I bet it takes batteries. And then when the batteries run out, it is just a piece of junk.

Me: Wow! A chemistry set! You and Daddy could do experiments!

Her: Well, yeah. That might be fun. Except when we burn a hole in the kitchen counter and then have to cover it up with a pot holder forever.

Me: Awwww! A cute fuzzy kitten toy with a baby kitten that sleeps in a little basket!

Her: Yeah, right! Old Kentucky Shark would murder that thing in one minute and then Meepers would run off with the baby and we’d find it in 100 years when it all was rotten and covered in food that T-Bird drops under the sofa!

I guess she is a bit of what I like to call “a realist” when it comes to the subject of toys.

So, last night as she and her baby sister slept in their car seats, Sir Hubby and I drove out to the hardware store and he ran in and bought her an anvil. $18.99. It weighs in at 15 lbs. It is now hiding in our closet awaiting the morning of the 25th. We are confused, amused, and just plain stunned to be doing this…I guess we will let you all know how this thing turns out.

An anvil. Huh. I have to accept that I will never understand Bug. But damn, she is pretty freakin’ cool.