Making Christmas

[threemeninaboat]

During randomdreams family lunch today, his sister-in-law said, "We were talking in the car about since the economy is so bad*, let's not get each other Christmas presents this year."
I said, "But I've already done all your Christmas shopping this year. I suppose I can find other foodies who will like the presents I've gotten you then."

Oh the face she made!

*Sort of odd, since none of us are having financial issues.


For only a bit more than a dead tree, today we bought a really live tree. A 7 foot Austrian Pine in a bucket. We'll put it on wheels and shuffle it onto the deck in the summer. I can keep it alive and trimmed up so it will always be a Perfect Christmas Tree that I won't have to worry about. I'll go decorate it as soon as I finish my homework.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I *think* they meant it in more of a "we know you don't have a huge amount of excess money..." way, since both mom and my brother have significantly more money than they need for their bills.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

...
I can buy my family Christmas presents.
Just because I have less money than they do, doesn't mean I don't have money.

[maribou]

Yeah, I didn't really mean they were skinflints, and I have to remind myself that being careful and non-spendy with money doesn't affect MY livelihood anymore ... just, the whole present-negotiating thing makes me all twitchy to start with. Buy presents, don't buy presents, write someone a letter telling them why they are awesome and wishing them a merry $holiday, but I was raised with some kind of weird ethos about present-giving that you don't tell people what to do about your presents, period, which means I misreact to most of that stuff...