I haven't even started Christmas shopping, yet. Nothing. Not one damned thing.
I am a great procrastinator, and I'm a very bad Christmas shopper. I always leave it until the last second and then I give myself a near heart attack racing around town trying to purchase everything, all the right things. This year is going to be no different. I don't get paid until the 24th. That's when my Christmas holidays start. It is going to be bloody awful, but I do know exactly what I am getting everyone, which solves a lot of problems. It's just the matter of getting from point A to point B to point... you get the picture.
I'm not all that big on Christmas. If it were up to me, I'd save up a month's worth of paychecks and buy me and my girl a car that actually works, instead of crazy, needless gifts that us adults say we want. For instance, my sister in law wants a particular dish that's in the 50 dollar price range. My twin wants red accessories for her kitchen. Last year she wanted purple. My brother wants more tools. My mom wants DVDs of Seinfeld... as if she doesn't know it all off by heart anyway. The only person that I actually want to buy a gift for, one that I know that she'll love, doesn't want anyone to buy her presents anyway. But the list goes on and on.
I hate Christmas shopping. I like spending time with my family, but I fucking hate the commercialism of the season, the intent to go poor just to keep up with everyone, and the bloody hassle of shopping with everyone in my city under the one roof of our local mall. I hate having to talk to customers at work who call in to say they are unable to make a payment this month, and knowing that in less than a couple of days after their phone call, their service will automatically be disconnected. People are voluntarily (myself included) causing themselves financial difficulty. And for what?
Well, not being a total humbug, I can answer the question too... to see a little girl's look of awe when they got exactly what they dreamed about for Christmas. To be able to spend time with loved ones and share memories and laughter. To enjoy each other and to cherish special moments.
Yeah, I'm for Christmas, I guess. But, shit. Next month, when I try to stave off eviction, it is going to be crappy.