Pre Christmas Crisis

If only there was a guide to surviving commercialised religious festivals!

Little girls dressed as angels singing in unison with portable Compact disk players belting out an imagined joy of the season.

Grumpy faced shoppers purchasing never to be used gifts at highly inflated prices for people whose company they hardly enjoy.

I know, you perhaps have heard this before.

But I hadn't really experienced this jaded view of Christmas until this year. I overheard snippets of tired shoppers and their partners arguing over gifts for folks they can't stand, or kids who have everything.

And then I shopped with a new consumer, ...fresh meat for the commercialised Christmas spending guilt trip.

My son has discovered Christmas.

Christmas and giving and the perceived pressure to give and get the gift right, and the acceptance of being a gift giver among gift givers.

Before this season Sebastian was a gift receiver, one of the kids, but this year, he is at 21, a fully fledged gift giver.

" I want to show everyone that I am an adult, and a success, I want to get it right, you know?"
"Yes I understand" I ventured" But you don't have to buy gifts to show how much you appreciate and love someone OK ?"

We were standing in a queue at K mart buying Wrapping paper and Sticky tape.
The customer in front of us had tried to purchase something without a price ! ( how incredibly inconsiderate!) and the clock was ticking ...rapidly.

Thirty minutes till closing, and being his first shop for Christmas, for the family and friends and girlfriend's parents and neighbour and their dog and the postman,.. he had left his run at the shops to a good hour before closing.

We left the centre, as shops were closing for Christmas and weary shoppers were heading home.
I have enjoyed a few hours with family since my supporting role as guide thru what everyone might like for Christmas, from Sebastian ,with a pre -Christmas BBQ, whilst Sebastian wrapped his purchases at his house.

.....Just got off the phone to him , what kind of wine do I buy a wine connoisseur?
Only establishment that is open now is the Drive thru alcohol shop!

Have a merry Christmas, I know Sebastian's friends will.