It is only November 12, and the holiday gift buying season is in full swing. I used to love the fact that the stores were in full spending mode: the too early decorations, the piped in holiday music, the sales, sales, sales. My favorite shopping day of the year used to be Black Friday, that crazy day after Thanksgiving when everyone is out in a mad throng to start buying for Christmas. I viewed it as an Olympic sport and I was in gold medal contention for fastest time for running up charge accounts. Now it seems, after all these years, I've lost my taste for it. I didn't even have to go to retail rehab. I guess I am gaining wisdom with age or some such sad state of affairs. Most likely, I got tired of the look on my husband's face each January when the bills started rolling in by the truckload. Don't get me wrong, I still love shopping. I have two scheduled holiday shopping trips with one more yet to be scheduled. My love of the holiday shopping sport spawned new family traditions. The first of these is an overnight trip with my sister-in-laws to an outlet center destination. The excuse is getting our holiday shopping done, but the reality is the draw of a big slumber party complete with wine, p.j.s and late night gossip. The time away from the kids is also a big plus for me, which is why I probably suggested an overnight trip in the first place. This year we are off to Wrenthem and the inexpensive rooms at the Courtyard Marriot. Probably a bit cheesy, but who cares when the jokes are flying and the wine is flowing.
The other shopping tradition is the Black Friday shop-a-thon with my nieces. I started this because of my obsession with the crowds, the noise and the general shopping feeding frenzy appeal. I could now do without the craziness of the day, but it is worth it to spend time with my neices. Finally, I started a new tradition this year with my neighbors. Since we have so much fun on "ladies night", I chose a weekday in December for all of us to trek to the largest mall in our area for the day under the cover of holiday shopping. It is really an excuse to have a big lunch, have time on the rides down and back to talk without constant interruption and buy ourselves something nice. All of these traditions, old and new, may center around shopping, but what they are really about is connecting with girlfriends. These are traditions worth preserving.
I've managed to best the retail experts in that I have many days of "shopping" planned with very little actual shopping. My money will be spent on food, sweet treats and probably a pair of shoes that I need like a hole in the head, but it won't be on gifts. I resolve resist the impulse buys and absolutely not use credit so I may enjoy the New Year without the enduring reproach of my dear husband. I will use the shopping experience for my own devices and not be used up by the consumer mentality. I wish for you your own brand of fun during this crazy, consumer driven holiday season.
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