As is my annual tradition, I offer a column with letters to Santa.
Some of the residents at Evergreen Manor, a treatment program for those with alcohol and drug problems, shared their special wishes this year.
It’s one of only a few programs in the country offering residential treatment for alcoholic and addicted women who are parents or pregnant, where children can live with their mothers.
While the moms are in drug treatment and parenting programs, the children are in a therapeutic day-care center.
For anyone who would like to grant any of these Santa wishes, Evergreen Manor is at 2601 Summit Ave., Everett.
Joshua, 4, and baby sister Riley: I’ve been an OK good boy. I want to have presents, a monkey, a real one. I promise I will be good boy, please. Please may I have presents for me and my baby sister? I promise I’ll be good next year. I like robots. I like monsters, but they scare me. I put a tree up all by myself and decorated all by myself. I play with my sister, Riley, and I share with my friends. I love you, Santa. Thank you for presents.
Jordan, 3: I’ve been good this year. I would like to get a dirt bike, skateboard and a scooter.
Luis, 5 1/2: I’ve been good and I would like a skateboard, yo-yo, toy sword and a scooter.
Nicholas, 4: I have been a really good boy. I brush my teeth every day. I’m a very nice person. I share. I am very nice to my Mom and Dad and I listen some of the time. Santa, I heard you give out toys to kids like me. May I please have some toys, Santa? Here’s my list: helicopter remote control, Mustang Transformer, an electric race car track. A bike. Thank you.
Devin, 7: I have been good all year and was hoping to get a game system to play at home. All the kids I live around play and have one. I had one last year but it got broke. My Daddy gave me that Xbox, it was the first thing I ever got from my dad and was fun when it worked. I know you have a lot to do this Christmas but if you could make time for me, I would be so happy.
Ashley, 23: If I had a better paying job, I would feel so much better and I could provide my son with the things I never had. If you have any ideas, let me know. I am a really hard worker and am great with people.
Natalie, 40, and Nathan, 22 months: I’ve been blessed with seven months of clean time, a beautiful 22-month-old son and a safe place to be. It is my wish to give my son a Christmas and a safe warm place to be for both of us.
Heather, 35: All I really want for Christmas is to have my family together. It’s been a few years since I was there for them. So, the most wonderful thing in the world would be to be with my children. Other than that, I would like for them to have a Christmas I can’t give them. I have a 9-year-old daughter, Lynlee; Junior who is 17 months; and Makenzie is due any day now.
Jessica, 25, and Jayden, 13 months: This Christmas is going to be the best Christmas ever. I finally have my daughter, Jayden, with me again and I am clean and sober. I wanna wish for Jayden to have a clean and sober Mommy forever and ever.
Anita, 23, and Milano, 5 months: For my first kid I would like to have a place to live when I’m done in recovery. And for my second kid I would like a new crib set with a mobile, and for me, I would like a new comforter.
Chris, 30, Nico, 8, ShyeAnne, 47 days: The thing that I wish for most this Christmas is my two children to experience a real Christmas with me sober. And for my son, Nico, 8, I wish for him to still believe in you, he still needs to believe in something. For my daughter, ShyeAnne, 47 days old, I wish for her to be the light and joy she brings to our lives.
Dalonda Johnson, 19: This year for Christmas I really want my life back. Since I was young, I haven’t had very healthy holidays, and me being an addict, I continued the habit of unhealthy holidays. This year I just had a daughter. I really want it to be different for her.
Darlene, 25: I’ve been a very good girl this year. I have just graduated from a six-month in-patient treatment program, and I am very happy and proud of myself. I would like for Christmas, a DVD-VCR, kid’s movies, comedy, action movies or DVDs, (or) gift cards.
Tammy, 44: I wish you a very Merry Christmas. For Christmas I could use a Swiffer Sweep-n-Vac mop and also a Cingular pre-paid camera phone, mine broke and has all my pictures of my grand baby on it. Also I could use canisters that hold flour and sugar that goes on top of the kitchen counter.
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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