Replaced by Rudolph

We talked on the telephone last night (or rather listened) to our two-year-old grandson, Cole, as he played. We already miss him from his trip home to Arkansas from Seattle two weeks ago. Since it was already December when he arrived, we decided to scurry around, buy the Christmas tree, put out the little Victorian village, and decorate the mantle. He was happy with his new found ability to use the remote to turn on the tree and the village. He seemed to like most of his presents, but he was happiest, however, to receive the classic Burl Ives' DVD on Rudolph. For the several days he was here, we frequently heard him request to see the movie. This action is a bit unusual because of his parents' decision not to allow him to watch television at home. In fact, the family gave away their television sets several months ago.

I think of how quickly we Americans become addicts to the small screen. When I was growing up in the Mississippi Delta in the early 1950's, we simply could not afford to buy a television with our waitress mother's salary and tips. In spite of that, I became a television addict by going back through the alley behind our apartment to Judy's and my good friends' (Lila Lee and Patsy) house. They had a television that was always turned in the afternoons to the Mickey Mouse Club. I was usually incensed, and often cried, if they were away from home when it came on. I loved the Spin and Marty series and especially loved watching the popular Annette Funicello as she pranced around looking ever so cute. It was not beyond me if Lila Lee and Patsy's dad was in a bad mood, often indicated by his cursing, to simply try to look through their windows to see the program.

I hope I haven't created the same kind of addict that I was in Cole. After they flew back to Seattle on the 5th of December, I did not get my daily phone calls from Cole telling me what he was eating every day. I waited patiently, and when I finally got another call, my daughter told me every time she suggested calling Mom B and Pop B that Cole simply replied, "Rudolph."