This year I was so much better about gift shopping than last year. Everyone is not getting DVDs from the Best Buy sale bin. I started early -- like August! -- and slowly selected items when I had the money thus avoiding my last minute poverty meets The Grinch. I hate the holiday crowds, all the hysteria; it's all very embarrassing to watch. BUT! I still sincerely want to give good gifts to my friends and family. I did some of my final purchases last weekend on Etsy. I've decided to shop exclusively online for mostly books and handmade gifts next year, with the same start early and slow tactic.
Over dinner on Friday I tell Eugenio about my purchases and plans, explaining all about Etsy and the handmade jewelry I bought for my niece and friend. He looks intently in my eyes, shaking his head, agreeing that it's so much nicer to give real, thoughtful gifts, to support small, pathetic businesses. The next day while shopping for wrapping paper he asks, "What are we going to get for Britney?" referring to my niece. "Do you not listen to anything I say?" I ask laughing. He looks at me with a mix of indignation and guilt, his mouth open and shoulders shrugging in that stupid way.
"I TOLD you. I bought her gift on Etsy."
"Oh, yeah....What did you get her?" he asks, a tad trepidatious.
"I TOLD YOU. I got her a handmade necklace." Truthfully, I don't know how handmade the necklaces were. I don't imagine the seller was actually molding those delicate charms herself with a blow torch in her closet. I probably could have "hand made" those too. Let's be real.
Last night over dinner as we discussed plans for shipping our gifts in lieu of traveling with them, he asks again, "What was it you got for Britney?" Feeling the heat from my blood and cowering from the rage in my eyes, he shouts before I can say anything, "Something they built by hand!" smiling with pride at his correct answer.
Yes. Next year you'll all be getting something-they-built-by-hand.
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