Christmas Expectations

Shopping for Christmas. Why has this process grown to such an extent that the green goes so much quicker and the pile of stuff gets smaller and smaller? I can get behind the concept of buying my loved ones, friends and acquaintances presents at this time of year. I can even appreciate trying to find the appropriate gift for the people for whom we shop.

The problem is that the list of donees keeps getting longer. The cost of things keeps getting higher and the amount of money available gets smaller. You ultimately get to a point where you wonder if the whole process is worthwhile.

When you talk about this, the designation of 'Scrooge' usually comes into play. You gripe about the cost or the list of donees and someone looks at you with a wry grin on their face and accuses you of being a skinflint.

But its not really that at all. When I was in college or even when I was a young, single lawyer and was buying presents for a few family members and friends, I didn't mind buying presents for them. I rather enjoyed the process. I enjoyed getting out into the decorated night time shopping milieu and trying to be creative in my shopping. I loved the lights and the crowds and the noise.

But now I am older. The list is longer. Expectations are higher. And I don't feel like the impetus is mine. I feel sometimes like I am being pushed into buying for people I wouldn't ordinarily buy for and putting out cash for gifts for people who could care less. Then there is the business angle.

But even the gifts to family members are a chore. Their expectations are greater. As Sally Brown said in 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' "I just want what's coming to me. I just want my fair share."

Is it significant from a motivational point if I am buying a trinket for someone because I think I have to? Wouldn't it be better if the gift was my idea?

Last night, Cindy, Kate and I drove over to Fayetteville and took care of a little shopping. Not much. Not enough. Not really complete, by a long shot. But we went to several stores and found some things. And I got excited about some of the items I saw and thought they might be fun to give to my loved ones. And the lights and the crowds didn't bother me. We had some fun eating out and we went around Barnes and Nobles, which is always a fun time for my family. And my mind got wrapped up in the pretty boxes and the colors and the bright lights and all of the things to buy. And my heart was tangled up in the gift wrap and ribbons and the pretty things and I gave in to the time of year and the efforts on the parts of all of these companies and shop-owners and merchants to make me buy, buy, buy. To a point.

Then, driving home, I realized that I still have a number of presents to buy and still have shopping to do and still have very little time left and the clock is tick, tick, ticking. Christmas is Tuesday. Today is Thursday.

I don't know. Maybe I am a 'Scrooge.' Or maybe I am Charlie Brown, standing out in the snow with a sorry little fir tree, trying to find significance and verity behind all of the tinsel and artificial lights.