Last week my husband and I went to do some Christmas shopping in 'the city'. In order to appreciate what I'm talking about, you need to understand that we live in a fairly isolated community with very little shopping options available. There is no such thing as running down to the nearest Walmart*. Whenever one goes to town for an appointment, inevitably there is also a long list of things to buy as well. Sometimes you even get lists from other people.
Talk about pressure. My husband picked me up directly from school at three o'clock and we headed to 'town' - a little over a hundred and twenty kilometers away. (That's about 75 miles.) We made it in time for my four thirty appointment, looked after 'the lists', grabbed a bite to eat, and then proceeded to buy a few groceries. By this time it was going on eight o'clock. We had about an hour of Christmas shopping left.
I don't know about you, but I don't always shop well under pressure, and one hour isn't much time when you basically need to start from scratch. I found myself feeling very 'grinch-like', in fact, and totally uninspired. You see, I'm not one to make a list of things I want for Christmas and neither do I like shopping for someone else from their prescribed list. This takes all the fun out of it, in my mind. I like to be surprised, and I like to find gifts for those on my list that have some kind of personal meaning, not just buy them more stuff. Basically, I go into the stores not having any idea what I'm going to buy for people. I wait for that perfect 'whatever' to jump out at me, and then I'll buy it.
This is not always the best method when faced with a time crunch. It's also why I usually end up doing my shopping somewhere around the week before Christmas. Sigh ... As you probably guessed, we got very little Christmas shopping done. There is always next weekend, and I'd rather get something meaningful.
I've come to realize that gifts, in themselves, aren't really that important, at least not in terms of dollars and cents. What counts is the message of love behind the gift. These are the kind of gifts I want to give and receive - gifts from the heart.
25 comments:
Your shopping method sounds a lot like my dad, when he pastored a church in the countryside. The nearest couple of towns were too small to provide many shopping opportunities, so he would drive about 30 miles to the nearest city. On those trips, he wanted to buy everything he needed in one fell swoop, so he wouldn't have to make multiple return trips.
Merry Christmas, Tracy.
~ VT
Well said, Tracy.
It's hard to give a gift of the heart without spending time to make sure the heart is behind the gift.
How do you feel about internet buying?
I hope you eventually get to find those meaningful gifts for those you love! Even if it is handmade, I love those kind the best!
I haven't had much success buying on the internet either. I'm kind of a 'hands on' person - tactile all the way! In any case, it always seems to turn out in the end.
Merry Christmas and a biiiiiiiiiiiig hug
What a great post! I hope you find everything you need this year! Merry Christmas!
I'm with Carol. Internet buying for me! This year, I've put very little thought in the presents I've bought (and wrapped--I know, I'm one of those people you hate! :) Maybe next year won't be as hectic, and I can be a little more creative.
Good luck in finding those perfect gifts!
It's tough to always find the perfect gift ... gift giving isn't one of my 'love languages'
I don't do well buying gifts under pressure either. And having my husband along with me doesn't help. He got frustrated with my inability to make a decision one time, so took the item I was considering--a glass piece--and started tossing it up and down and catching it. That got me to make a decision really quick! Thankfully, he doesn't do that any more. I don't think I could survive gift shopping with him at all if he had kept that up.
I get most nervous when shopping for my wife, for everyone else it is just a hunting expedition.
Suzanne, this is hilarious. it sounds like something my husband would do. We tease him that he is ADHD ... I like Mike's referral to a 'hunting expedition'. that pretty much sums it up!
Love it!
Your methods and style really struck a cord with me, since I totally identify with you! I always want to get the right gift, not 'more stuff'. I hope you make it in time...LOL I haven't even started shopping.
Fun post. You reminded of a scene from a movie in which the character rushes into a 7-11 on Christmas Eve to do his shopping. I'm a great procrastinator too. Christmas cards aren't even addressed yet. Hope you managed to find what you needed. Peace and Blessings.
Terrie, we are kindred spirits, I think! Edward ... I haven't even BOUGHT the cards, let alone addressed them!
Great post, Tracy. Gift giving (and receiving) is one of my love languages - I delight in the whole process of trying to find the right thing for each person, and nothing frustrates me more than having someone say "nothing" when I ask them what they want for Christmas. This year, because of my job situation, I bought almost everyone the same thing - yarn. I'm crocheting Christmas this time around. Hey - "Crocheting Christmas" - sounds like a good title for a story... ;)
Fun! I don't crochet myself (I tried to make a Granny square once and it looked like a Granny amoeba ...) but I do like to knit.
Ugh. I dislike shopping under pressure too! I buy most of our gifts online, and wrap them as they come. We live a bit in the *boonies* as well :)
I'm strange... I actually enjoy last minute shopping. It seems to me I'm more in the spirit and don't get particularly stressed about it. I do maybe half online, this part is a bit earlier. Merry Christmas Tracy!!
That's a long way out! Obviously the essentials can be picked up at a small village shop, but anything else... you'd better make a list!
One hour actually doesn't seem like much, William. When we lived in the Yukon, the nearest city for shopping (Whitehorse) was five hours away. You definitely need to make a list then.
I'm just the opposite, Tracy. And I agree with the other Traci. Giving is just a part of me. I could not do any Christmas shopping without lists! Takes all the stress out of it. I know what I'm going for and hubs and I go get it. I did a lot of online shopping this year, which helped as well. With the fibromyalgia, I don't last very long shopping. Hope you find all you need to get!
Tracy, your gifts are probably a wonderful blessing to all who receive them. :) My sister-in-law is a creative gift giver and I'm constantly amazed at her ability to find something unique and individual for each person she shops for. I, on the other hand, absolutely hate shopping -- at least in stores with other people in them. ;) Yup, I'm the one who avoids stores at all costs from Thanksgiving through the middle of January. But I do love shopping online and having my sweet UPS guys deliver those gifts right to my front door! :) Love that we have options and can each shop in ways that bring us joy. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Tracy!
I'm with you, Tracy--last-minute is the order of the season. And my family doesn't do lists. We all feel we should know one another well enough to find something that reflects a heartfelt offering. Granted, there have been instances in the past when the time crunch has resulted in less-than-ideal gifts for people; but that's less a result of the no-list rule than of our own procrastination. I guess we should attempt to give from the heart a little earlier than we do most years. . . .
A tradition that'll have to start next year, since we have yet to start shopping for this season. Oh, well. Can't help but feel a little better about that after having read your post here. . . !
Great post, Tracy. I just finished my shopping today. :-)
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