Not a single present
With that sentiment said out loud, this blog is for all my friends out there who have their presents wrapped with curled ribbons and already placed under the tree. To those of you who were organized and buying creative gifts back in July, you know who you are.
Kudos to you!
I just came off a whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend ready for Christmas. I enjoyed the turkey, I ate the pie, and I perused lots and lots of Black Friday sale fliers that begged me to come in to the store with a belly of undigested food.
This year, I politely declined. Actually, most years I decline. Except for the one fiasco of a year where I went to buy our first flat screen, the ones advertised were gone, and I bought one for twice what I was willing to pay. I do love this TV, which is still our current one, and will continue to be our current one due to extravagant prices paid. I've decided I work well under pressure, but not shopping under pressure and willingness of my credit card to jump out of my wallet just so that lady hogging all the advertised $1 towels doesn't get more than me.
How is it thrifty, though, to go out for a deal in the middle of the night, only to end up paying more? My warm bed was a better choice this year. Though we did venture out the following day and head up to Canton. We didn't shop, but went to see Breaking Dawn instead. Better vampires than crazed shoppers who would suck your blood dry just to pry that $2.48 waffle iron from your cold hands.
I decided to support Small Business Saturday (the day after Black Friday) and shop at Save & Serve, my local thrift store. The kids and I had a blast sifting through all the Christmas stuff. I purchased Christmas lights, ugly Christmas sweaters, and a few other things all for around $10. We also have a brilliant idea that will be put to use the week before Christmas. All I can say is watch out.
All this being said, I still don't have one Christmas present purchased. We bought our Christmas tree, a live one for all you fake tree lovers, last Friday on our trek to Canton. My house is now wreathed in pine scent, and Hunter, breathing deeply, said it finally smells like Christmas. Our stockings are hung in the doorway with care. Yes, I said doorway. If you don't have a fireplace, what do you do? The manger scene was lovingly set up last night, and is awaiting a white strand of lights that I need to buy yet.
What's missing from this picture? Oh yes, presents.
They will appear, randomly, from here to Dec. 25. One by one they will magically be placed under the tree, my intricate system of fooling the kids with whose is whose firmly written on each package. They won't know which gifts are theirs until the big morning. The stockings will start to bulge with little trinkets, and a passing hand will give each one a squeeze as they get fatter and fatter.
For the past several years, and probably years before that, I've chosen not to stress. My kids give me lists of their wants, and I comb and sift through them buying a few things, but selecting also what we want to give them from our hearts. Christmas, after all, isn't about us.
So to all you friends out there who have your gifts wrapped and under the tree - good for you, I say. You've found your niche. To all you Black Friday shoppers who found your treasures in a mad rush, kudos – you know how you like to shop.
As for me, I have my lists and my ideas. The items will come to me as I shop randomly throughout the next few weeks. And when Christmas morning comes, everything will be in its place. But most of all we'll be together, hopefully plus one, in our jammies secure against the cold. And perfect presents or not, all will be right with the world.