You would think it would be easy to find a particular video game that my son, Caylan, wants for Christmas, but noooo ... can't find the darn thing anywhere!  It is this year's "gotta have" item in the line of video games, and I am ready to chuck Caylan's game system out the window and into the trash!

Besides having to put up with not being able to find the game, I have to deal with incredibly long lines, rude or insensitive people, grouchy cashiers, spending big bucks just so my son can be satisfied come Christmas morning (only to end up coming short each and every time), and much more.  

In addition, I have to spend money on gas to drive a few miles when I hear an advertisement from the store that the game is available ... only to my horror to find the game already sold out before I even have a chance to arrive into the store's parking lot!!

I have also been checking online.  So far, nothing.  Same thing.  Game is sold out.  None available.  

It is enough to make me want to pull out my hair and scream!!  I don't know how in the world that I am expected to tell Caylan that he might not be getting the promised game from Santa after all.  Then I am going to have to face the music, the music of a very upset little eight year old boy who is still young enough to believe in Santa, but knowing that he will eventually have to face the truth: that Santa is just a myth, and that the presents in times past have been from mommy and daddy.

I wish I could keep Caylan eight years old forever.  Little kids are always so trusting, and life is a lot simpler for them than older kids or even us adults. We adults have fallen headlong into the commercialism trap that is the crux of the whole holiday shopping madness, and I hate it! I absolutely hate it!!