‘Tis the Season Already

Posted by Cynical Sarah on November 22, 2006

There are hints of the Christmas season all over the place already. Halloween candy is just hitting the clearance rack and already there are decorated trees on display in stores along with candy canes and potential gift items.

Everyone says “They start sooner and sooner every year putting out Christmas stuff.” In the United States, people are still hunting down a good deal on a Thanksgiving turkey and they’ve having to work their way around the Christmas decorations first. But,  I realized as I was walking through a mall this weekend, that in Canada it really is the next holiday after Halloween, so it’s not so odd that they’ve already got the decorations out and ready to go.

It still seemed odd to see the Christmas trees set up right next to this year’s Halloween costumes when they came out, but it doesn’t seem as out of place when it’s the following holiday anyway. It was a good reminder to start thinking about what I want to get people this year too.

It might sound crazy, but I really am one of those people who enjoys giving gifts to people. There’s nothing more fun than finding the “perfect” gift for someone and knowing they’re going to love it. So I really like the season of giving for that reason.

On the other hand, it’s been years since I can remember actually wanting something specific for Christmas. As a kid there was always some cool new toy or electronic that was a “must have,” but now that I’m all grown up and can just buy things when I want or need them, there really isn’t much to put on a wish list.

I consider myself pretty easy to buy for though. Not only because I’m pretty easy going and tend to like whatever I get, but also because I’ve got enough hobbies and interests that people know what I’m going to like. I like crafty stuff, so for the last few years I’ve been given craft supplies. I’ve learned how to crochet, courtesy of a gift from my husband one year, which I’m sure many people will come to hate over the years since I enjoy it and make a ton of stuff which I end up giving to people them because I don’t really need 20 hat and scarf sets.

Being easy to buy for, though, doesn’t mean that I’m very good at figuring out what to tell people I want. I’ve been struggling to come up with some ideas after my mom asked if we wanted to exchange lists this year.

It’s the first Christmas that I won’t be back in South Dakota and also the first time I’ve been so far away. I’m sure that makes it harder for them to think of something for me, not to mention throwing a husband into the mix to buy for – a husband who is nearly impossible to buy gifts for, I might add.

For him and for my dad, the list idea could be an excellent one since the rest of us will have some clues as to what they want. My dad might even end up with something he can really use and like that doesn’t involve fishing or tidying up the garage if he’s got a list we can take a look at.

So here I sit in November, talking about Christmas lists after just saying how the holiday seems to start earlier and earlier every year. I do like to get a jump on my shopping so it’s not all last minute, but it would be nice if I could come up with a list of ideas for myself that’s more than three items long to trade with my family. I suppose I could add yarn to the list so I’ve got plenty to make them all gifts for next year.

- Sarah L. Polson

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Tags: christmas, humor, shopping

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