Christmas Revisited ...
A Few More Quick Thoughts
Trust me, no one loves Christmas more than I do. I’m a Poet, Author and Writer with a ton of Christmas love in my heart and Christmas spirit in my soul.
However, this year was a major turning point, a milestone of sorts. It’s the first Christmas that one tradition got trampled, stomped on, and (God forbid!) I. felt. my. age.
It all happened when I tried to Christmas shop a couple of weeks prior. It was tradition and it had always worked before … but this year was different. My arthritis was flaring up and I hurt, which made me cranky. My patience was already stretched thin, due to a couple of other concerns.
When I got to the mall, the parking lot was full, so I had to park way out in (as my potty-mouthed ex used to say) ‘East Bumfuck’, and then walk the entire length of the parking lot to the Mall entrance.
Navigating through a couple of stores brought a lot more walking, dodging hurried people, only to find humongous lines at the checkout. I finally called “uncle” and gave up. I walked back through the parking lot and went home to try my hand at shopping online this year.
Parking lots and malls for Christmas shopping are not meant for ladies my age with an arthritis flare up. It’s no wonder people are cranky by the time Santa arrives. It’s no wonder people copy old Scrooge with a “bah humbug” or two, as well.
That was weeks ago and I am now a believer. I’ll never Christmas shop the other way again, arthritis or no arthritis. Two days of Google searches and visiting websites to compare prices, find free shipping, add coupons and rebates to purchases and I was done shopping. Those two easy days online might have taken me two weeks between stores to buy, and the Post Office to send. It would also have been more costly.
I always wondered what growing older would be. Now I know. I can proudly wave my arms in the air while shouting, “It’s Christmas shopping online!”
Next year I’ll gladly greet Santa with a wide grin and a warm hug …
I mostly shop on line now, but when I was a young man in NYC I loved to hit the stores. The Manhattan shops were an adventure in seasonal warmth and beauty. I used to go door to door, straining my wAllet and delighting in matching potential gifts to friends and family. I especially liked to shop for my dear Aunt Mary who showed me all the love of a mother. And there was the young girl who knocked me senseless. She was the first true love of my life, and I still remember the taste of her mouth. Youth is not just for the young!