The following is a wish list for the Christmas season, in no particular order.

1. I wish for justice in the case of Purpose Goldsmith, a local 2-year-old who died after being beaten for soiling her diaper. Her mother’s boyfriend, who clocks in at 5’5” and 200 pounds with a past conviction for child abuse, admitted to striking the girl with 50 percent of his strength. I want to strike him with 100 percent of my strength.

2. For the first time in 65 years, Grandpa wore his Army uniform from World War II. He spoke recently at an elementary school in a small town, then sent me a photo of the newspaper clipping. You look good, soldier. I wish more veterans would share their experiences from World War II. I wish younger generations would understand that World War II is the most consequential event in history.

3. I wish Federal Way had an official Christmas tree with an official tree lighting ceremony. It’s the little things that foster community pride and raise Federal Way’s quality of life.

4. I wish the new mayor the best luck as Federal Way enters a new era of government. May the city undergo a smooth transition, and may the new mayor refrain from hiring all his buddies for well-paying city jobs.

5. I wish there were an official monument to veterans in Federal Way. The Federal Way Kiwanis are searching for money to make this memorial possible. On that note, cheers to all participants of the Veterans Day observance last month at Todd Beamer High School. I wish for more events like this because we cannot thank veterans enough.

6. I wish the sand sculpting competition would spice up next year’s bill. Perhaps the developer for those three fictional downtown skyscrapers can erect a scale model, complete with sand figurines of all the millionaires lining up to invest in this project. That may be a tall order, however, as a sculpture of that magnitude cannot withstand the developer’s relentless stream of hot air.

7. I wish someone would write the following sick note to their boss: My throat feels like it’s full of tacks, my nose drips like a faucet and I need a toilet with a seatbelt.

8. I wish that elections didn’t lead to post-election burnout syndrome (PEBS). Those who suffer from PEBS often wander Federal Way absent-mindedly, seeking an outlet for that election-time energy. You could call it withdrawal for political junkies.

9. I wish the handwritten letter would make a comeback, especially among the youth whose phones have been sewn to their hands.

10. I wish for all-out boldness — in language, in celebration, in love. It’s the only way to live.

11. I wish this list of wishes will amount to more than just wishful thinking.