I like a lot of parts of Christmas. I like seeing family. I like seeing the lights. I like all the parties. But I sure do hate shopping for presents.
Of course I like getting presents, but I would give that all up in a second. It’s like 3 weeks of stress wondering about what to get, finding time to go to the store, finding a parking spot, wandering from store to store, waiting in lines, etc. But if you don’t get someone a present, it means you don’t love them. And if you do get them a present but it’s not something they like, they wonder what you were thinking when you got it.
And when I look at the faces of the people also trying to find a spot, wandering from store to store, and standing in line, they don’t look very happy either. They all look tired and exasperated just like me.
The one difference is getting things for kids. It’s so much easier to shop for them and they really love the presents. It’s too bad Christmas isn’t more like Easter in that regard. You know, the kids get a few presents, but there is no expectation for the adults to receive anything.
I don’t like presents either - giving or receiving. I DON’T need anymore knick-knacks! I really don’t need anything, but what can I do?
I have a hard time shopping for other people, most of my gifts are lame. Kids are different, I don’t mind shopping for them. I wouldn’t mind is Christmas was a kids-only deal.
I love Christmas shopping. That’s why I put it off until the last minute. Seriously, I love the throng of the crowd, the near Zen-like focus I achieve trying to ignore the onslaught of sensory input as I try to find just the right gift for persons A, B, C, etc.
It’s kind of like personal combat but without the body count. Besides, that scary focused look I get on my face realy helps, um, eazzzzzzzzze other shoppers out of the way as I’m reaching for the really cool sweater.
Since I have plans both Eve and Day, my shopping will start Monday at around noon. It’s my favorite part of the whole process, even more than open the presents I recieve (but only just)
eBay was my friend this year…
I used it to get rid of the knick-knacks I acquired last christmas, and used the money to buy my presents for others!
Barely stepped foot into a store
This year we actually eliminated Christmas gifts in my family. We bought for our own spouses/children, but for the family gathering, we’re just having a holiday dinner pot-luck.
Every year we had all agreed to “cut down.” But we were all trapped by the guilt of “Oh, if I get a gift for Aunt Jane, I’ll need to get one for Aunt Sally. And if I give a gift to Cousin Bill, I’ll have to give one to Cousin John, Couisn Sara, Couisn Carl . . . .” Not wanting anyone to feel “left out” . . . It just kept adding up.
This year, we finally said no more. Such a sigh of relief went up in my family. This holiday season has been the most enjoyable, stress free Christmas that we’ve ever had.
