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Mrs. 'Boro: It's only 60 days 'til Christmas arrives



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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, October 25, 2009 7:13 am
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If you read this on Sunday, there will be only 60 days left until Christmas.

Get that? 60. S-i-x-t-y days.

Remember how quickly two months go by? Think, (well, almost) Labor Day, school openings and early fall.

And you thought Hobby Lobby was jumping the gun by getting those decorations out there! When you think of having only three months or so to promote the “stuff,” putting it out there early doesn’t seem unrealistic, in my opinion.

Christmas is coming, friends, ready or not.

For the past 10 or so years I have kept a list of people with whom we exchange gifts on a kitchen cabinet door. I am so afraid that I’ll forget someone I finally put it in writing.

Each year I promise myself to get a jumpstart on the list by purchasing gifts, bags, tags, etc. and assembling them early instead of waiting until the last minute (my usual modus operandi).

We don’t exchange much: a hand-knit dishtowel; a jar of Christmas pickles, a bottle of wine.

Sometimes swapping gifts is the only time we get to visit former neighbors and other good friends. But, our list has grown to 14 (not to mention secretaries, bosses and co-workers) so a couple of months ago I made verbal declarations to the people on this list early on that I do not plan to give gifts this year. And I do not expect to receive any, either.

When I started telling friends this in August, I saw genuine relief in their faces instead of disappointment. So much so that I wrote notes to that effect to those I had not visited in person.

Times are difficult and I know of no one who has not been affected by this recession in which we find ourselves. That fact alone would be a reason to initiate this action.

I basically told my friends that while we truly appreciate the gesture, exchanging gifts has become a hassle and an unnecessary expense, and frankly, a chore, and I hope they will think of me fondly as they save their money for something they need or put an extra donation into the Salvation Army kettle this year.

Taking my name off their list will give them one less thing to worry about too. I hope.

When I mentioned that to my friend Melanie Shipp, she said: “You mean I won’t have your homemade relish any more?”

Yes, Melanie. As long as I have homemade relish, you will have some.
It may not come at Christmas time but it will come when you tell me you need it. The reason I make it is because of friends like you.

Even my children have admitted that they don’t want—or expect—much this year.

I have begged them not to spend more than $20 on me (a gift card from iTunes would be great) because times have been difficult for them, too.

We are already planning to spend as much time together as much as we can and have vowed to be together as much as possible.

Christmas spent with the true meaning of Christmas.

How special could that be?

‘Til next week.
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Tags: Jeanne Bragg, Mrs. Murfreesboro, Voices
Member Opinions:
By: acdsrool on 10/28/09
You exchange gifts on a kitchen cabinet door? How many gifts fit on a cabinet door?


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