It is December 10th and the pressure is starting to build. Do I have everyone covered off on my holiday list? Does friend X get a small token of love or the limited edition book on Paris's most influential designers that will cost me a half day's pay? Do I donate $500 to Children's Aid and send everyone a card? In previous years, I have gone the baked goods route; filling small white boxes with my best confectionery creations. This has been a smashing success in the past, but I have opted to see if I can go the more traditional gift route and not pull my hair out.
The first day in the mall wasn't too painful. I aimlessly wandered in and out of chain stores trying to find inspiration for the gifts I will give to my loved ones. As I spend more time in each store I start examining things; scarfs, hats, books, pens, and other gift items that have promised to satisfy all your holiday gifting needs. Many of the items I examined were pretty and shiny and colorful. They almost put you into a coma like state where everything around you bleeds into itself and you are left with a rainbow of colors and a very perky salesperson to help you pick your color of choice! I tried desperately to find something; anything that I could feel safe buying someone that said I care. Not "I don't really know you so here is a basket from Bath and Body Works". Please don't assume that statement applied to everyone. There are people you and I know that we like and respect, but really don't know enough to get them a Best Friends Forever pendant. It is those people that do appreciate the kind gesture of a more general item like a gift certificate or the always awesome "Spa in a bag". I am talking about the people you have fought battles with, endured break-ups and make-ups with. The ones that can tell how you are feeling by the temperature in the air around you. They are the ones that you know and want to surprise with something they would adore, but never think to buy for themselves.
Perhaps I am placing the present bar too high. Creating a sort of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" situation where I am setting expectations so high, they are doomed to be missed. Following my first trip at the mall, it was clear I needed to really flush out the presents before entering the building of stuff and things with no home. I layed all the people out, their favorite things, their secret passions, their most prized possessions and built a wish list of things for each person. Back to the mall I go with a game plan and my trusty ipod to block out the screaming children and chattering teenagers. After two hours or dogging, weaving, sorting and lots of waiting I came out with three presents. THREE out of FIFTEEN. Although I felt a small success, the three bricks I pulled down were nothing in comparison to the other fifteen that remained.
After my mall visits and my attempt to personalize each gift I made a decision. I am not going to do holiday gifts in the month of December anymore. I am going to explain to all my peoples that they will get awesome things. They will get surprised. They will get these awesome things and surprised at ANY point during the year. It will be when the moment is right and the stars have aligned to bring me and their gift together in a meeting of wonderment. In addition to the mall visits and challenges reconciling a manufactured holiday dictating when and why I should buy somebody something, I came to my final decision after listening to a Toys R Us commercial aimed at parents. The commercial painted this picture of the old days when Christmas was about family and egg nog and stringing the tree with fresh cranberries and popcorn. It said " Remember when Christmas was about family and friends, not toys and presents". then is continues to say " old days are gone and new are here to stay, so get your kid the best toy on the market". Basically saying without saying "get your kid the cool toys or he will be judged". I am being slightly dramatic, but can't we try and strike a fine balance and throw in a carol with the newest addition to the Sony Playstation family. Hey, maybe they can create a game for Rockband where the family gets together to sing custom carols, they get recorded and you email that out as your holiday card. Just a thought.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
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