This time of year was hard for me, but at least I wasn\u2019t doing last-minute shopping at the mall. It wasn\u2019t the stress of searching for just the right gift. December marked the anniversary of the death of my young daughter, Bridget.<\/p>\n
As the anniversary approached, my sadness deepened. The last thing I could imagine facing was a bustling crowd of shoppers at a mall, but I had friends and family to consider. I\u2019d finished my gift list in August.<\/p>\n
I will make it through another Christmas, <\/em>I told myself as I sat down on the couch to watch the news with my son Dan. With God\u2019s help I know I will make it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShoppers all over the country have their eyes set on a new toy,\u201d the anchor said. \u201cTickle Me Elmo.\u201d<\/p>\n A photo of a red plush toy with a happy grin appeared in the upper-right corner of the screen. A caption read, \u201cThis Season\u2019s Hottest Trend.\u201d<\/p>\n As the report continued, Dan and I watched footage of shoppers in long lines at stores and jammed into auction halls all across the country. Everyone wanted to get their hands on a Tickle Me Elmo.<\/p>\n I thought about the unopened box sitting in my closet. The one I hadn\u2019t looked at since August. \u201cI have one of those toys. I bought it this summer, not sure who I\u2019d give it to.\u201d<\/p>\n Dan looked at me sadly. He knew I was imagining just how much Bridget would have loved the toy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou could make some money on that toy,\u201d Dan said.<\/p>\n