Joy of Christmas

Everybody has their own little cues, those little signs that signal the approach of Christmas. For some, it’s the sight of Christmas lights on the front porch and Christmas trees in the living room windows. Others look for the first snowfall or the Christmas sales in stores.

What sign do I seek out?

Well, it came last week when the “must have” item of the year was announced. One year it was Cabbage Patch Dolls that inspired smiles and riots. Another “must have” was the Tickle Me Elmo, which was scarce in toy aisles and available on eBay for a couple thousand dollars.

This year I knew the Christmas season was fast approaching when area stores received only 10 units apiece of the coveted PlayStation 3. When I heard of the demand, the scanty supplies, and the outrageous resales on the Internet, I realized that the Christmas season was here.

I headed for the Princeton Wal-Mart when I learned that four guys were camping out in the electronics department so they could snare PlayStation 3s when they arrived at the magical hour of midnight. Now I admit that I’m not a major fan of electronics and video games, but I admire fortitude when I see it. These guys were willing to sit on chairs and wait in line for hours just so they could get this year’s holiday holy grail.

Of course, these PS3 seekers were able to sit in heated comfort. If the Wal-Mart wasn’t open 24 hours, they would have faced the prospect of camping out in their cars. Personally, I think they would have done it.

I like to think that I have the fortitude to camp out and score the perfect gift for a loved one. I try to start Christmas shopping well before the dreaded Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I urge my family to let me know what they want under the tree. Then when I see it for a good price, I can buy it immediately. That way I don’t have to rush and run up big bills all at once.

Unfortunately, the system breaks down at times. I’ve already gotten myself into trouble. I spotted the perfect present for my older nephew A.J. and grabbed it. Later, I told my sister Karen about my find and asked what she thought younger nephew Alex might like to receive from his “Unk.”

“Remember, Greg,” Karen warned me. “You’re talking about two very competitive little boys.”

Hearing that warning was like finding a drowned roach in my turkey gravy. I’ve been trying to find a second copy of that exact same gift (I’d name it, but the boys can read) and haven’t seen another. I may have to scout eBay, heaven save me, or worse, brave Black Friday. Frankly, I’d rather do on the scene interviews during a major flood than shop during Black Friday.

And I should be very thankful that the boys haven’t asked for a PlayStation3; it’s something Santa won’t have in his sack when he comes down their home’s chimney. I could buy one if I was lucky enough to find one for the retail price, but I’d be thinking “there goes two car payments” when I paid for the thing.

Yes, holiday shopping is usually fun, but I have my limits.

One affordable Christmas ritual I do enjoy is shopping for a less fortunate child. I select a name from one of the Angel trees, always a boy, and find what I can for him. I select a boy because I have a better sense of what he might like, plus you get to buy those cool toys you would have wanted when you were small.

I still remember the year I found an extremely cool ray gun that had three sequences of flashing light and electro sounds to match; exactly what I would have wanted when I was a kid. Naturally I included the receipt in case there was a problem. I was also glad that gifts are anonymous. After a Christmas morning with that ray gun, the boy’s parents might have sent a message stating, “Our lawyer will contact you.”

Giving to the unfortunate does give one a lift, especially when you’re hoping that your loved ones won’t want the holiday gift that inspires riots when it appears on the shelves. The Christmas season is a season for giving, but remember that it does not have to be the season for headaches and stress. Give what you can reasonably afford to give, and be glad that you could give it.

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