It's almost that giving time of year again, Christmas, where people exchange gifts on Christmas Eve in some countries and Christmas day in others.
My wife and I don't usually give each other things at Christmas time as we generally get what we need throughout the year as that need arises and come the end of the year tend not to have need of anything. We're also not very spendy, meaning that we don't buy things for the sake of buying them. We're content with what we have.
This year though...
I came up with what sounded like a good idea at the time; It was prompted by the situation my mother in-law is facing with her cancer scenario. You see, she's been given somewhat of a life-deadline and whilst the period is indistinct, a loose 2 to 5 years, the advice she was given by her oncologist team was to live life now because things could accelerate. Hmm, message received.
Anyway, I called Faith last week with what I thought was a good idea...Why don't we do Christmas gifts this year, just the three of us. We could set a limit, I suggested $100 per person, and have a little fun on Christmas morning, create some memories. Faith thought it was a great idea so it was settled.
A few days later, and many hours of aimlessly wandering around the mall by myself wondering what the hell to get Faith and her mum, I began to realise that my idea of Christmas giving was simply giving me frustration!
OK I'll be honest, I'm making it sound worse than it was, or is because the pain continues; It wasn't many hours, just a couple.
I've got Faith's mum squared away, the old go-to favourites of a dressing gown and slippers. I also got her one of those really detailed colouring in books, the adult-style ones, and a cook book of Australian favourite recipes, just the good basic food we all love. She loves cooking and I love eating so I thought that would be a nice double win! 馃ぃ
That was $70 all up, yes I'm a bargain shopper (actually everything was on sale), so last night I was grinding my brain-gears to think of something else. I came up with one of those photo prints that are printed on a stretched canvas, like a painting. I went online to get it sorted, chose an image of Faith and her mum from when we flew a helicopter into Mt Earnslaw Burn, New Zealand last year, and bibbety bobbety boo, ordered.
Full disclosure: I went $19 over budget on my mother in-law's gifts but I think that's not too bad all things considered.
Giving frustration 50% over.
Faith...Now she's the hard one. You see, she doesn't want anything. Literally nothing. She said to wrap myself up and give her that, but I think that task is beyond me, besides, she gets the unwrapped version every day! 馃榿
I'm at a loss as to what to get her although I'm leaning towards some garden tools in a storage case; The tools have nice pastel flowers all over them and I think she'd like them over her current things, but I'm not really feeling it to be honest.
I want to get her a Casio Baby-G watch, one of those pink or white ones, but it's double the budget I have and I'm afraid it's not something she'll like anyway...She doesn't wear a watch. I think they're cool and as a Casio Rangeman aficionado myself I would like her to have one.
Just a note, if you're wondering what to get me folks feel free to get me the Casio Rangeman GPR-B1000. Just saying.
Anyway, I may be in the spirit of giving this year, but it's certainly also giving me some frustration along the way. I'm sure I'll come up with something, but I'm running out of time.
How about you? Are you doing any gift giving at Christmas time? Have you got your shopping arranged already or are you a leave it to the last minute sort of person. Is there someone in your family that's hard to buy for? And do you need any hints on what to get me? (See link above) 馃ぃ
Let me know how your Christmas shopping mis going and if it's giving you frustration.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
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