I remember when my dad told his stories of how his family and friends pulled together during the Great Depression. I remember how his eyes softened and glistened with happy Christmas memories of modest, homemade gifts, games, and family togetherness. Without an excess of money, his family focused on what they did have to give: themselves. Well, I've decided that this Christmas will be an old-fashioned one that will focus on what really matters: family and friends.My proposal to my family and friends is this: no gift will cost more than $5. In fact, I want it to be a theme Christmas: A Dollar-General Christmas. Gifts are not to be the kind that pretend to be more expensive or from more expensive stores. Let's pick out gifts that are highly personalized (I'm thinking right now about gifts like the "Dad shirt" beer cozy that Ville gave me last summer). Let's spend time together in the livingroom, playing music at the piano and on our guitars, working jigsaw puzzles and playing board games on the kitchen table, and enjoying a nice but affordable Christmas dinner (right now, Willow's post roast sounds really good!).
Maybe this financial crisis is just what our country needs to get back to the real meaning of Christmas: family, friends, love and laughter. Why should gifts each year compete with those we gave last year as better, bigger, flashier, more expensive? They shouldn't.
Oh hon! I'm SO glad to read this! What a relief! THIS sounds WONDERFUL! It really does! We can still make homemade goodies, and our decorations are still lovely. We just don't need to try and spend a fortune. And I LOVE the idea of sitting around playing board games, singing, and sharing with one another. This is great!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you can pull that off - which I would be rooting for - you will have my envy. If I proposed something like that to my family they would look at me as if I were from Mars.
ReplyDeleteI would be envious. Think about that.
Yes! I for one am looking forward to not having a "capitalist Xmas".And having a "real Christmas".
ReplyDeleteSounds good!!!!!! I cut Christmas back a long time ago out of necessity and left it that way. I like keeping the reason for the season at the forefront and if I'm profligate at all it will be to have my friends in for open house. I make a mean eggnog!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI agree ... as long as I get a new bike and a new stereo and a new back pack and a new coat. And maybe a new car... Yes, a modest Christmas is a swell idea!
ReplyDeleteOur family has never been materialistic; we've never been able to afford to be! In our best year we still spent only about $100 on each family member. We're just not that into material acquisition. As you see, Nettl and Joel are on board -- I don't anticipate any trouble from the others. We always worry about money; having a Christmas without the accompanying stress will be a welcomed change for the entire family.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I picked up a new client today! Things are looking up!
P.S.S. Kay, we make rum and eggnog, drinks we've named "Schnoggloggers". LOL!
I did it again. I made a comment under my company account's name. Stu.
ReplyDeletei couldnt agree more... my grandfathers tales of what he went thru in the depression would always humble me...
ReplyDeleteI know this is typical, but I wish I would have asked my dad more questions, listened to his tales more patiently and learned more from his experiences.
ReplyDeletesigh
I always remember my dad talking about when things were the worst in the '30s, with six children in the family after my grandfather died. I think probably every Christmas, Dad would mention the year that there was no money for any gifts at all, but my grandmother wanted to have something for the children to open on Christmas morning. She wrapped things that they needed anyway in newspaper. I can still hear my dad say that he got "a 10-cent bottle of hair oil" that Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSee? That's exactly what I mean. One of my favorite Christmas memories is of 2001 or 2002. We didn't have money for much, and I took the kids out (as I did every year) to get something for Lynette. They decided on a faux leopard skin clutch from WalMart (we have a family in-joke about Nettl and leopard skin -- I got her a "leopard skin" mouse pad). When she opened it, everyone in the room chimed, "Leopard skiii-in!"
ReplyDeleteThat has become one of our favorite family moments.
Last year, Nathan got me a new, really nice designer wallet for Christmas, and I had to retire the old "Leopard Skiiiin". Now it is lovingly tucked into my cedar chest with all of my favorite memories.
ReplyDeleteI'm already in the process of planning for Christmas and what to buy people. The past year however, my daughter has really started to go mad buying gadgets for her computer and random weird and wonderful gizmos.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have no idea on what I’m actually looking for, I haven't a clue about anything that is hi-tech or gadget related. So browsing around the Internet I visited the usual websites like need a present etc. They have a range of stuff to look at and plenty of ideas I just need to spend some time looking so what I eventually buy will be something she appreciates.
Nice idea, but I don't think I could convince my loved ones.
ReplyDeleteEvery year they ask me what I want and every year I say the same thing. Peace on Earth, goodwill toward Man (and Woman).
Hasn't happened yet.
All I want for Christmas, is to spend more time with my friends. Seems like we have all been so distant lately. We all need to be in the same room more often. :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea...all those doing things together instead of spending lots of money. Jigsaw puzzles is a tradition that we have in our family at Christmas time. I found so many great Christmas-themed puzzles that I created a page called Looking for Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles. Some of them would make good, inexpensive gifts!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I'm already in the process of planning for Christmas and what to buy people. The past year however, my daughter has really started to go mad buying gadgets for her computer and random weird and wonderful gizmos.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have no idea on what I’m actually looking for, I haven't a clue about anything that is hi-tech or gadget related. So browsing around the Internet I visited the usual websites like need a present etc. They have a range of stuff to look at and plenty of ideas I just need to spend some time looking so what I eventually buy will be something she appreciates.
I did it again. I made a comment under my company account's name. Stu.
ReplyDelete