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Jagular

Monday, November 27, 2006

The best Christmas present.

Do you remember what you got for Christmas last year? I don't. But it was probably a sweater. Or some cologne. It might have been a shaver.
I'm not really big on getting Christmas presents. I guess that's why they say I am hard to shop for. It's not so much that I'm a Bah Humbug. I just don't really get into "stuff" so much.
Every year we go through the same thing. And every year I tell everyone the same thing. And every year everyone says how hard I am to shop for.
Here's a typical conversation:
Them: What do you want for Christmas?
Me: Just take the money that you were going to spend on me and use it to help someone out. Then write down what you did, put it in a Christmas card, and put it under the tree. Then I'll open it on Christmas morning when everyone else opens their gifts.
Them: No, really. What do you want?
Me: That's what I want.
Them: You're hard to shop for. Why don't you make a list or something to make it easier for people to get what you want.
Me: That's what I want.
Them: Do you need a sweater? Some cologne? A shaver?
Me: No.
Them: Well what do you want?
Me: That's what I want.
Them: How about a gift card? Where do you usually shop?
Me: I don't usually shop.
Them: Where do you buy your clothes?
Me: I don't usually buy clothes.
Them: Where was the last place you bought clothes?
Me: I've never bought clothes.
Them: Where did you get the clothes you are wearing?
Me: When I tell people that I still wear the same clothes from highschool, I'm talking about the same, actual clothes.
Them: So those blue jeans are twenty years old?
Me: Yes.
Them: So I'll buy you some clothes then.
Me: I have clothes.
Them: Then what do you want?
Me: That's what I want.

And every year I get a sweater. Or some cologne. Or a shaver.
But one year my mother did exactly what I said. She took the money that she was going to spend on me and went across the tracks and found a really poor family. She bought them a Christmas dinner. The whole works. All the way down to the bread rolls. Enough to feed an army. They had their whole family over and had a turkey dinner the likes of which they had never had before. They wrote a handwritten thank you note and gave it to my mother. It was really quite touching. It brought tears to my eyes, and I'm cold and cynical. So if anyone wants to get me anything, now you know what I want. That was the best Christmas present that anyone ever gave me.
And if you are feeling particularly brave this year, you might try telling your family and friends that that is what you want. But you might get a sweater. Or some cologne. Quite possibly a shaver.

7 Comments:

At November 27, 2006 2:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good gift. Gift buying is a drag. Maybe I'll do a post on it myself.

 
At November 27, 2006 3:54 PM, Blogger Save Sheila said...

I have told the people who regularly buy me stuff (substitute the word "crap" for most of it) that I don't want gifts this year. If they feel compelled, they can get an extra gift for their spouse. We just had a yard sale and a bunch of the things we've been given the past few years went to someone else's home, where they might be enjoyed. I am hoping to start a trend among my family and friends. No gifts means no stress, no money spent!! I would much rather just enjoy the company and holidays than open presents anyway!

 
At November 27, 2006 3:59 PM, Blogger jagular said...

Does this mean your internet connection is back up?

Excellent idea you have there. I get so tired of people being more concerned with presents than with people.

 
At November 27, 2006 5:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

thats amazing...and a very good idea!!! i'm only buying for family this year...i've told friends etc that i dont want presents as i wont be buying them...so instead we are going out for dinner and drinks - much nicer way to celebrate i think anyways!!!

 
At November 28, 2006 6:27 AM, Blogger TTQ said...

We didn't do presents last year for each other, it was a mutual decision based on alot of factors. We wanted to be free and clear when we got married in June and we figured we have alot of Christmases coming up, so what's the big deal! We had a blast visiting people all day, his family, my family. Christmas Eve we did do a big meal at our house for my visiting family, we ate, watched movies, played monopoly, ate. Watched my niece open a gazillion presents, played with kids. Didn't miss the presents at all.

 
At November 29, 2006 1:52 AM, Blogger Chance said...

Fabulous idea! Being a bah-humbug type about presents, I have spent some great holidays serving food at shelters. My best Christmas ever, I spent in China, where it is just another work day and I hiked to the top of Stone Flower mountain. A crisp day full of sun.

 
At November 29, 2006 9:33 PM, Blogger Frannie Farmer said...

I am with you. I have often said the same. Back in the day I would just return stuff and spend the $ on others. now its too hard to do that .. so generally I try to re-gift to someone who MIGHT need the stuff (crap, as Sheila said).
I think it would be a great way to teach your children about really giving.

 

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