Christmas Not Shopping
The holiday season is here again. This explains my recent craving for gherkins, spreadable cheese, rum and chocolate maps (not the chocolates themselves, just the guide that one finds at the bottom of a box of Pot of Gold, etc.). Speaking of which, did anyone out there EVER choose the nougat-centered candies as their FIRST choice? In my family, those were always the last ones left in the box. Hard toffee centers were second last. (The “mouse chocolates” if you follow the Farmer in the Dell paradigm.)
Today I even deigned to take the bus (I’m not a snob, but if you are familiar with the Winnipeg transit system, you’ll understand), so strong was my Christmas shopping impulse. This year, however, the impulse must be suppressed. I left my job earlier this year in order to go back to school and now I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to resort to popsicle and sticky popcorn crafts as gifts. Which I will not do, of course, even as a joke. One dollar buys a great many plastic packets of Wing’s Plum Sauce, but that was 1993’s inspired Christmas gift. Cannot re-give.
I don’t know about you, but a specific romantic haze overcomes me during the holiday season. I want to buy cozy, classic turtlenecks, nice cologne (nothing brash or offensive, I promise you!), a trip to Rome and simple silver rings for a boyfriend. I want to buy my mother an all-expenses paid trip to the British countryside in May (but she wouldn’t go, I fear) and a hot-air balloon or a custom-made canoe for my dad. I want to buy one of those giant-tree scratching posts for my cats. Alas, money does not allow; neither am I certain that my gifts would be appreciated. Would my dad like to receive a hot-air ballon for Christmas? Would he use it? Maybe not, but I’d still like to get him one. Am I being selfish? Personally, I don’t think so. Mind you, if someone insisted on buying me a car made out of white chocolate or string art because his/her heart longed to give these particular gifts to me, I should want to dissuade this person nonetheless.
I think that some of us want to express ourselves and what we ourselves wish for through our gifts. It’s a wonderful thing when can share what we like and make someone else happy at the same time. Perhaps one day I’ll yearn to shower family members with power tools and giant brooches; then everyone I know will be thrilled with their presents.
Perhaps I’ll have one more glass of rosé wine and drift further into wistfulness. More to follow, don’t doubt it.
Posted on December 11, 2001 03:50 PM