I love the holidays. Especially the weeks that lead up to Christmas, but it comes with a lot of angst.
The problem is that I’m not good at shopping or should I say not good at finding the right gifts for the loved ones in my life. The chore—yes, chore—seems to get harder each year especially when I don’t have a Christmas wish list in my pocket. I always ask my wife for some ideas, but she usually says, “surprise me.”
“Oh, you’ll be surprised all right,” I say to myself and off I go trying to find that elusive perfect gift. As I wander through downtown shops and malls, I feel like I’m in a perpetual daze, looking for something I’ll never find. Unfortunately, this has become my holiday tradition, but I have learned to pace myself: Breaks at pastry shops and candy stores provide the fuel vitally necessary to continue down the road of utter failure. The only success I’ve had in years past is putting in10,000 steps a day in a mega mall.
I am not sure why I perseverate so much on the holiday task at hand. Probably it’s because my track record stinks and that is not a recipe for future success. I’ve always felt that if someone went into business helping others find gifts, they could make a fortune. It’s truly a gift, no pun intended, trying to find eactly the right present to make someone happy.
Maybe I’m overthinking this whole thing. Maybe people are just happy with the thought and effort it took for me to get them a present in the first place. I’m sure that’s true to a point, even when someone says they love what I bought them although I can see them subconsciously rolling their eyes. And when I find one of my gifted sweaters still folded up like new and unused in my wife’s closet six months later, my worst fears are realized—my present was a bust. So were the red-and-white striped socks and the adjustable backscratchers I bought for my sons.
Truth be told, I have no one else to blame for my past failures. I’ve neglected to pay close attention and to be observant about the things that make people truly happy. Unfortunately, paying for trips to exotic islands isn’t in my December budget. I can only dream of remembering to buy that special gift a family member happened to mention well before the Christmas season.
That would be super, a spiritual home run, but who am I kidding? It’ll never happen. First of all, I have a short attention span unless the UCONN basketball team happens to be on national television. I also lack the ability to remember things months later—or even a week later.
That’s why I need a wish list. It would make things so much easier. I could pop into a store, buy what I need and then head to one of my favorite spots for lunch. Lunch is a great way to take a break from the crowds, the traffic and to get your mind right for what lies ahead.
Maybe the phone company had it right decades ago with the slogan, “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking.” Today’s version of that is online shopping. I see delivery trucks at the homes of my neighbors all the time so I figured I should get in on the action too. And I did a few weeks ago. I eagerly set up accounts with a few retailers but it soon hit me: I still had no idea what I was shopping for!
After much thought, I’ve just decided to stick to the game plan that I’ve followed through the years. I’ll drive to store after store, mall after mall, until something inspires me. I know that’ll take some time, but I also know I can always rely on the favorite item on my personal shopping list – lunch.
Great article Dave! Maybe everyone should have a registry list like you would do for a wedding. Post it through email for those who are buying you gifts. Result, no mistakes or wasted time.