By now I think it's no secret that I
wait till the last minute to Christmas shop. I have greatest and
bestest excuses and I can convince you that it is just not possible
for me to start earlier. The truth is, I am overwhelmed with it all.
And wouldn't you know, waiting till the very last minute does
nothing to improve this situation.
I want to share with you a secret
weapon for handling the enormous stress of the holidays. I present
you with.....
SILLY SOCKS
Yuuuuup! Silly Socks! I'll be working
till the very last minute. Everyone and their uncle is coming in for
one reason or another. I'm dressed in my finest holiday office
attire and the silliest socks I can find. They are a great hit with
the kiddies, they notice them first, and adults find them amusing as
well. This only works for me during the holidays where I'm allowed a
little office silliness. Does it get any better than this? It does!
For more Christmas fun I'll kick off my shoes and run around the
office sporting these little darlings. More fun is annoying my
co-workers with questions like 'have you noticed my socks?' (like how
could you not?) 'you haven't made a comment on my socks yet!' I say
this often during the day.
But I procrastinate...(shocker, I know)
The next gift suggestion is for Mother
Smith
Guardian Angel
I love Mother Smith. She is the
greatest Mother-in-law EVAH! She has welcomed me with open arms from
day one. She is kind, sweet, wonderful and never has a bad word to
say about anyone. At 91 and counting she does not need anymore
stuff!!!! Buying for her is a challenge. Her hobbies consist of
playing cards (a woman after my own heart! Lol) She goes to church
every Sunday and volunteers a day a week at the church. She has
lunch several times a week with her bridge buddies. She doesn't read
as much as she used to. Naps a lot. Has a cinnamon roll every
morning for breakfast. She raised 3 wonderful children (I snagged
the best for myself!!!) She is the beloved matriarch for the Smith
family.
I met her for the first time at
Christmas time. She lives in Arizona, about 6 hours from here. We
drove out, the day after Christmas to spend a few days with her. She
bought me a little glass angel. I think of it as Mother Smiths
Guardian Angel. It's clearly a Christmas type ornament but I keep it
up all year and think of her whenever I see it. I was a little
saddened when I pulled this card for her. She's in great shape for
her age. Her mind is sharp but hearing bad. She's taken a few bad
falls this year. One had her in the hospital and left her with a
fair amount of metal in her wrist and arm. She's more forgetful (who
isn't?). She still lives alone and even drives! This year she has
decided to only drive in her little retirement community and the kids
have all arranged to have mom chauffeured for shopping and doctors
visits.
I sometimes wonder when I visit if this
is the last time I'll see her. But after being with her for a few
days I'm confident I'll have another year. Pulling this card has made
me sit up and take notice. Will this be our last Christmas? She's
not ready to go. She talks of moving to a more assisted living type
place. We all have insisted she come live with us but she wont have
it. After living alone for 15 years she likes her privacy and peace
and quiet. She wants to stay near her home church and the friends she
has left. She doesn't want to be fussed over. She doesn't want to
burden anyone.
So what shouldz I get her? She has
completely decluttered her home. She doesn't need or want more stuff.
Every year she's had Christmas at her home. Every year when we come
we help her take down and pack up the tree and decorations. This
year she has decided not to decorate. Instead she is visiting with daughter Rozi for Christmas. We will head out to Kingman, visit
for the day and then we'll pack her up and take her home and stay
with her a few days. It's different this year. I know she will
never put up Christmas again. She wont be having the holidays at her
house again. She has quietly decided not to do certain things
anymore.
This card has spoken to my heart. This
year it wont be about gift giving. It's going to be about blessing
and being blessed by this amazing woman.
I still want to get her something. She
very well may out live us all!! ;)
LOVE, the best present of all
Peace
Priscilla
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