Presently I am thinking about presents - I love the idea of giving presents with thought and love attached - something homemade, handmade or lovingly chosen through understanding, listening (or eavesdropping) and knowing.
The reality is more often a blind panic scenario. This results in a high probability that I will give someone something they really don't need or want or like and it will just be one more thing in the pile of stuff and excess.
My dad's methodology is simple. He goes on a trip to the city and heads into David Jones. He has a list. He never asks prices. Without hesitation he hands them the David Jones card he has had since he was a Jackaroo and grins. He enjoys his city Christmas shop, he loves buying and giving presents and he delights in giving detailed hints about what present he has got... "Sammy. What do you think is in this bag. Something for you. It rhymes with Big Green Cractor"! So much love and cheer has gone into the choosing and the shopping experience and I have always loved the presents he has chosen for me because he has chosen them for me.
But I am always torn between asking people what they want or taking it on myself to choose something highly personal that might be spot on or right off.
I open the paper today and see that Myer is offering people a Christmas Gift Registry service. I find this very practical. I also find it really crass. It means people can give gifts that are genuinely wanted. It means people get what they genuinely want. It means that the waste normally associated with unwanted Christmas presents is avoided. It also means that Christmas has become about the gift rather than the giving. It means than the joy of giving personalised, thoughtful, love-filled gift, even if sometimes unusual, unused and unwanted, is lost. It means that Dad can order online! It's a bit of a Christmas conundrum. How did giving become so regimented and receiving become so demanding?
So this year, I am really thinking about my presents and my people. I'm writing a list and checking in thrice. I am thinking, shopping, making, baking and creating. When people ask what I want, I give them a few ideas but leave it up to them to have the pleasure of choosing, giving and surprising. Something that rhymes with...
Merry, bouncy, generous and joyous Christmas to you all!
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