Christmas Time is Here

This last week, we pulled out our Christmas decorations. Over the years, and thanks to my days at the BL, I have collected some really great Santas and other ornaments that I have always enjoyed during the season.

Lately, though, I have become increasingly more of a Scrooge. As I get older, I am finding it more and more difficult to enjoy Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love the season. I love giving. I find no greater joy then finding that one suprise for Mr. G, giving the chocolate letters to my co-workers for Dutch Christmas, or making my way through the holiday crowds to play Sub-for-Santa for a family, that all they really wish for is a warm coat and a pair of snow boots.

So why the Scrooge? What gets me down? The expectations. The obligations. The commercialism.

I really don't enjoy gift exchanges. Why?? What a great opportunity to GIVE and, even more exciting, to receive? Isn't that what its all about? What's wrong with every gift exchange ending with a $10 gift card to Old Navy? I don't want to sound ungrateful, or unappreciative, because I'm not - my collection of gift cards usually come in handy when I need a great shirt in the after-Christmas sale. So often it's a feeling of, "Oh my heck, it's Christmas eve and I forgot I have to buy a gift." I know if I feel like that, so do others. Hence, the $10 gift cards (oh, and don't forget, most gift exchanges have set dollar limits, so you know how much "gift" to give.) I really just want to do something for other people that I know is special for them. Give them their "warm coat and boots." Perhaps that's what I expect (see...expectations) in return.

A group of friends and I were talking recently about general Christmas gift giving. One girl told about someone she knows who provides a Christmas list (great idea, if you're 6 yrs old), but it's not enough to say 'red cashmere sweater,' she also provides the item number and bar code so whoever is so fotunate to purchase the red cashmere sweater is sure to get the "right" one. It is all so wrong.

This year, instead of my focus being so much on the production of "Christmas," with Santa, lots of presents, worrying about what set of parents haven't seen us for the last 3 Christmas', or the annual trip to Vegas, I am focusing on the real purpose of the season. The real point. Because nothing else matters.