Shopping

I have successfully bypassed Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.  It wasn't all that hard. Guess I just found other things to do, like spend time with family and watch the Vikings lose again. Being a non-shopper in the first place and a Christmas shopping procrastinator to boot, I'm one of those people that think Dec. 20th, or so is a good time to pick up some holiday gifts.

My neighbors already have their lights up.  Judy and I will probably put ours up in two or three weeks.  We'll get a last minute deal on Christmas trees, and those of you who get a Christmas card from us know it usually arrives sometime mid-January.  I don't begrudge people getting into shopping and Christmas in general.  As a matter of fact, I kind of admire those who get into the spirit of the season.  And each year I look forward to receiving another CD of "wacky" holiday tunes personally made by a good friend of mine.

I will buy some gifts this season, of course.  If nothing else, because my wife's birthday is December 1.  I dare not forget it.  She made it easy for me, though, when we got married on June 1, exactly six months from her birthday. 

In about three weeks the two of us will sit down and make a list of what to get for people.  Her 100-year-old grandma is always hard.  What can we get her that she hasn't either bought or received in the last century? The kids are grown, so we won't be getting any little toys for them to delight in for an hour or so after they open them up.  Right now I think they just appreciate the tuition payments.  We've gotten over the idea that we have to buy presents for far-flung relatives we hardly ever see.  That leaves a few close relatives and friends, and each other.  And what we like, mostly, is just spending time together.  Gifts given are symbolic for the most part.  

We'll make this list over breakfast at a favorite restaurant.  Then we will go on a shopping blitz, kind of our personal Black Friday, and get it all done by 2 p.m.  The best part of the day will be breakfast.  I know this  goes against the grain, but we'll probably have time left over to reflect on the Reason for the Season.