I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

So, I was looking at this post I wrote about a year and a half ago, just a couple of months before moving to Tallahassee. The post centers on what I called my “Tallahassee Wishlist,” a list of items I dreamed of acquiring as I entered into the most recent chapter of my life. As I noted at the end of this list, the only item I truly expected to acquire was a new backpack, primarily because it was the cheapest item on the list. As I revisit the list, however, I am surprised to find that most of the items I mention have in fact made their way into my hands, somehow or another. Since moving to Tally, I have acquired a new desktop computer, my first laptop, a new backpack, a new couch, and yes, even a few new items of clothing. Realizing this makes me feel quite spoiled. I feel like I’m far from living the high life, but I could probably be a lot more appreciative than I sometimes am. That being said, with my last list of wishes yielding such a high “come true” rate, I figured I’d update my list of semi-significant wants. Here goes nothing!

I would like:

• A new bed (for reasons noted here)
• A new rocking chair for the kids’ room (as Melanie will attest, it’s a necessary item to have, but the hand-me-down rocking chair we currently have is beginning to come apart at the joints)
• A new suit (because the only official, complete suit that I’ve ever personally owned is now 10 years old and has a hole in the crotch; I’ve never purchased a suit on my own before, so I admit to being somewhat intimidated by this one)
• A new microwave (probably not too urgently, but ours, which is probably seven or eight years old, sometimes emits an odd, somewhat mechanical smell that should probably be taken as a warning sign that the microwave is about to explode)
• A Blu-Ray player (because among the things I’ve acquired in the last 18 months that are not on the aforementioned list is a 32” HDTV – might as well enjoy it for what it’s worth!)
• A new car (because I’m just not sure how long the current one will last – it has passed the 100,000 mile mark and recently developed a stuttering problem; a costly repair could be quite problematic for us, and it seems the money might be better spent on something newer if it ever came down to that)
  

I could probably add to the list, but I should quit while I’m ahead. It’s already a rather grandiose list, owing to the bed and the car. I’m hoping the latter item isn’t truly necessary, but the bed … well, it’s only getting worse. That might have to be our major purchase of the year, assuming tax breaks and/or other acts of generosity make it even remotely feasible. Despite the good fortune Melanie and I have enjoyed, none of it could have happened without others being so kind to us. So thank you to all those who know what we’re talking about. And, if I revisit this list 18 months from now and find that we’ve somehow managed to acquire some of these things, I’m sure I’ll be thanking you again.