Christmas Shopping

Even before I made it my car after work yesterday, two people gave me their Christmas shopping/car accident horror stories.

"Oh my God! You're going shopping this close to Christmas?"

And then the advice ensues as if they were a WWII combat veteran.

I tried to reassure the people that I definitely wasn't going to the mall. That would be stupid and something I would never do until the 23rd.

Give this guy some credit. I planned it out. The store I planned to shop at was a specialty store that I knew wouldn't have much traffic. I parked in a small, nearly empty parking lot off an alley and walked a half block just to avoid traffic.

In the store the staff seemed happy to see me and was very helpful. I found two great gifts: one that my wife had pointed out months before with glee and the other one was imbued with such tender relevance and symbolism that I almost cried when I saw it.

Speaking personally, I have always had such romantic hopes of how people will react to the 'special" gifts I give. Sometimes when I see that "certain gift" I imagine the giver will open up the package and experience great joy, tears of joy, disbelief, child-like wonder and other such emotions.

I don't know if finding those "great gifts" can ever be accomplished shopping on-line. As a direct experience there is something about seeing, touching, smelling & otherwise actually holding a gift that the internet will never replace. As we hold something we are considering buying it, there are the subtle changes in texture, color and perspective as the item turns in your arms and hands. How quickly it stimulates the imagination can only be experienced in person.

Even if something is seen in a store then purchased on-line...I am not yet convinced it's the same thing. It's not the "things" we buy people for Christmas but what they mean. Can this transfer take place when things are purchased on-line without seeing them first?

If you have any ideas, click the "Comments" link below this entry, select "Anonymous" and share your thoughts. It won't be the same as you being with me in person but it'll have to do. The web is good for some things.