CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

by Horace J. Digby

    "Do your Christmas shopping early".  That’s what everybody said back in the last century, when I was twelve.  As a kid it made sense to shop early, except that it took me all year to save a couple of bucks so I could do any shopping at all.

    As an adult I still remember the rule about shopping early, which my parents–or maybe it was television–drove into my brain.  But try as I might, I am caught in the same dilemma year after year.

    I can’t decide what to get people.  Styles and tastes change.  Prices go up and down.  A better model is coming soon.  It would be foolish to tie up money in gifts when it could be working for me in the market (and then there is never a convenient place to hide all those gifts).  If I buy a gift too soon, whoever it was for will probably already have one by Christmas.  Besides, I’m just no good at keeping secrets.  If I shop early, that will just give me more time to crack under all that pressure.

    I know that I am wrong to feel this way, but over the years certain aspects of last minute shopping have grown to be an enjoyable part of my life.  If I were to change my ways now, what would become of the friends I have made (usually on Christmas eve) like the man who met "both Kennedys," or those wonderful ladies at the booth in the mall who do my last minute gift wrapping each year (and make special treats for me).  Then there is the joy of watching other shoppers scurry about in a near panic of shopping frenzy that I have come to think of as the Christmas sprit.

    Perhaps I should apologize to my dear old parents–or to my dear old T.V., whichever the case may be.  Sorry.  I guess you just didn’t raise me right after all.

    But isn’t it about time for us to question that age old rule about SHOPPING EARLY?  Who benefits from it?  Who loses?  Who cares?  By worrying about these things for the next month, or so I will not have any time for shopping again this year, at least not until the last minute.  And that's the way I like it.