I went shopping today to find a birthday gift for my wife. Shopping is something I hate, and I’m not overly fond of the consumer-orgy that gift giving has become. Yes, that’s right, I’m a grinchy old man in disguise. I’m not a whole lot of fun to be around come Christmas. I don’t have anything original to say on the topic, just the usual complaint to lodge—I should be able to tell somebody that I love them without having to spend a certain amount on them. So it was with a heavy heart that I started my expedition to Target, and then onward to a strip mall filled with all the finer chain stores.
I was surprised to actually enjoy the event. I have to confess that getting in the car and driving to a couple of stores, meditating on what my wife enjoys and what her hobbies are, and deciding whether or not she’d like some of the things they had for sale was a positive experience. It made me think of all the acts of kindness she’s done for me lately and all the thought she puts into birthdays and Christmas. It gave me some time to tune out other concerns and focus on why I love her and want to make her happy, and why she makes me happy.
I still feel like a fish being reeled in every time I go to a big-box retailer, and I still prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas because I think Wal-mart and Halmark have successfully stolen Christmas from Baby Jesus. However, I’m willing to concede that gift shopping and gift giving are useful in maintaining relationships with loved ones.I will resume my usual tirades against shopping and consumerism tomorrow. ¶ 3:45 PM
