Here I am once again in the waning hours of Christmas Shopping Season and it never fails. The Christmas Paradox is almost worse this year than the Versace shirt conundrum of 1995.
Alas, every Christmas the spirit of the season overwhelms me yet I still manage to spend more on myself than all my friends and relatives combined. One DVD for Dad, two DVD’s for me. One pair of Khaki’s for my brother, a new pair of shoes and two shirts for me…
What is it about the Christmas season that I become so charitable to myself ? At the point of purchase I feel such a grand sense of giving that I easily rationalize the myriad of personal presents in the check-out line. After all, I am spreading some cheer to others, but hey, I worked a 10 hour day last month. Don’t I deserve an extra “Christmas” XBOX game for my efforts ?
If I look real hard at my credit card statement I think I can still see the compound interest from my stop at the Somerset Collection last year to pick up a “last minute” gift. Yeah right, I end up buying one leather-bound notebook for my girlfriend and one for me. Then I keep the bigger one ! What the hell ?
Am I alone in suffering from this perplexing paradox ? It’s just too easy to approach the cute sales girl at GAP to locate the proper sized leather jacket that I know damn well will be hanging in my closet on December 26 ! Hey, she probably thinks I’m a thoughtful friend. So benevolent, so generous, so… egomaniacal !
So here I am exposing my dirty secret for all to see. My evil smirk hanging firm because I know that no matter how bad I’ve been, Santa could never fit a lump of coal in my stocking with all the stuff I bought myself this year.
Fortunately there are only 5 days until Christmas and if I’m lucky I’ll be so busy watching the bonus features on my new Star Wars Ep. II DVD I won’t have time for another trip to the mall…
Happy Holidays :smack:
