As a child I had one wish for Christmas. I would wait for the Montgomery Ward/Sears catalog to come every year. I would skip past the toy section, clothes, and the other junks that was listed to find my page. There in the middle of the massive catalog near the order page was what I wished for three years straight. In a glorious black and white photo was my dream present. A donkey. Oh, how I wanted that donkey.
My dad said he couldn’t have anything on the farm that didn’t bring in an income. My mom said they don’t ship animals….. But there it was right next to the order form! I marked the page every year. I prayed to Santa. And all I got was Barbies, baby dolls, and clothes. Bummer every year.
My donkey would be like Shrek’s donkey. Polite, clean, and happy. I never thought of what it would eat, who would clean up after it or where it would stay. I just thought it would stay in my room with me. It would be my best friend. But, alas, my parents had other plans.
Oh, we had animals…. Cows, pigs, chickens. I got to chase the cows all the time back to the barn for milking. I got to gather the eggs. I don’t remember doing much with the pigs.
Some times dreams don’t come true. And you get what you need whether you know it or not.
There are two donkeys living down the street from me now. I wave as we go by. I don’t have to shovel anything, feed them, or get them water. That is good enough for me.
And when I think of my donkey, I probably would have gotten “The Wonkey Donkey” anyway.
You tube has some great The Wonkey Donkey videos if you don’t know about this book! I read it at my grandson’s birthday party to 1 child and a room full of adults.
