Christmas Fun.

In an earlier blog I confessed to being crazy and expounded on the merits thereof. Let me give you a few examples as they relate to Christmas.

One year I purchased a box of the cheapest Christmas cards I could find. They were small with  short general verse and an old time looking picture.  It was very obvious they were something an old person with a limited fixed income would buy.

I carefully wrote a brief but personal note inside each one to the recipient would know that I knew them well. Being right handed, I wrote with my left hand to create a shakey and unstable hand writing; and signed each card with love, Fred and Lillian.  No, I have no clue who Fred and Lillian are either. We carefully selected just the right people from our friends and family card list and allowed Fred and Lillian cards to go to each of them.  Of course we did not put any return address on the envelope nor did we use a last name to the signature.

Later when in the company of those lucky folks who had received Christmas greetings from Fred and Lillian we would discretely bring  up the subject of Christmas cards and sit quietly waiting for the subject of Fred and Lillian  to come up.  Without fail folks would tell of receiving the card from what must have been an old couple with no return address and only with an Upstate South Carolina postmark. We did receive one phone call from a friend out of state asking if we knew a Fred and Lillian from upstate SC.  Of course, we plead ignorance to knowing that lovely old man and his wife.  He finally concluded he must have gone to church with them sometimes in the past in North Carolina but just could not place who they are.

Another year Anne and I made the decision  to limit the amount we would spend on gifts to each other to $10. We could not spend more than $10 total for each other.  I went shopping at the Dixie Gem shop.  I purchases a 2 kt cubic zirconia stone cut to resemble a beautiful diamond and had it mounded on a sterling silver mount and placed on a chain borrowed from Anne's jewelry box. Total cost $10.00

A few days later, I received a phone call from a friend. In the course of the conversation he asked me what I was getting Anne for Christmas. I did not lie. I simply said a 2kt pendant. He did not ask what stone and I did not tell him.  For years he would always ask what I would be getting Anne for any special event, Christmas, Valentine day, or anything.  He would always buy the same thing for his wife except on a bigger scale.  If I bought my wife a purse, he would have to buy his wife a purse and shoes to match.

Nothing more was said until about six months later he mentioned that he had gotten his bank note paid off. He confessed he had borrowed $5000 to buy his wife a diamond pendant necklace.  He seemed a bit embarassed that he could not afford a 2kt ring like I had bought but said he did get a good deal on one just over 1kt for $5000.  From that time forward, he never ever asked me what I was buying Anne for any special event.  Of course, I never told him that I had only spent $10 and that he had bought a far more expensive gift.  Actually, it was none of his business.

This year Anne and I agreed to restrict our buying for each other to items we would find at either a thrift store or the Dollar Tree. It will be interesting to see what comes of that.

With less than a week remaining before Christmas, I will take this opportunity to wish all a very Merry Christmas.  Remember is is not the size or the value of a gift that is important.  What is important is that it reflect the gift of Christmas love. Perhaps the most valuable gift could be your time well spent with someone or a hug to someone who needs one or even a smile or a simple Christmas wish.