(Heart) the Holidays, (un-heart) the Holiday Shopping
So it’s very obviously that time of year again where commercialism hits. And this year is new and awkward for me.
After two years of being with someone who perpetually was unable to save his pay cheque for more than 48 hours, hanging out with someone (remember, “it’s complicated”!) who can budget enough to have money for when we go out somewhere, is definitely just a strange feeling.
Stranger still, is that we’re doing a holiday gift exchange… and while I already know that (if it arrives on time) he’ll <3 what I’m getting him… I also know that I’m getting something in return that I will equally <3. (Someone forgot to hide said present & I accidentally tripped over it during an evening visit 
)
Which brings me to… I’ve always felt warm & fuzzy inside giving people gifts I know they’ll enjoy. I don’t do it to get something in return, because trust me if I did, I would probably have never given anyone anything. This is the first time, ever, that someone’s bothered to pay attention to my inane ramblings and figure out what I’d want as a gift in return.
I’m confused.
How does this work?
I’ve never received gifts well, because I’ve never really received anything that would be something I truly would want.
My parents and I haven’t exchanged gifts really in years. I believe this year besides the two gift-cards already in my wallet (since my mom doesn’t go to those restaurants and I would) I’m getting a chap-stick. Previous years have included more chap-stick, nail clippers, snow globes and stuffed animals that I’ve re-gifted to other people. My dad doesn’t get me anything. I get them both a handful of cash to go spend at the casino or to go out for dinner. (As I do with any major “Holiday”) Although this year I’m getting my mom a netbook to surf the internet with (well… she’s getting my old one while I go buy myself a new one, heh.) and my dad’s getting a GPS so he can stop complaining how I have the family GPS in my car all the time (because I’m the one who uses it most often… since he’s out of the country on average 6 months out of every year.)
My friends generally don’t bother with Christmas gifts for each other, there used to be the tradition of everyone piling together into an apartment and ordering Chinese food & generally just hanging out & watching movies for the day instead. The gift of good times is as good a gift as any I suppose, but there’s just something missing when there’s no wrapping paper to tear off a package. (I think that’s my most favourite part)
The worst example of this is my last boyfriend who decided to get me a matching ring & necklace for Christmas last year… which was pretty… but very little thought was put into the gift. Because I’ve never worn a necklace or a ring around him, because I don’t like wearing rings or necklaces. I dislike flowers (which is what the theme on this jewelry set was) and the real kicker in the end was the ring didn’t fit a single one of my fingers… and I ended up being allergic to the metal in the necklace, which gave me an unsightly rash… and it was the only thing I’d received in two years? Where I’ve gifted countless video games, gaming add-ons, table-top figurines, clothes, food and meals out… which to this day I never really felt appreciated for. But I think I’ve ranted on about that enough by now.
So for once I’m actually getting excited about the holidays, because I’m getting to give gifts to people I care about… and while it sounds super selfish… I know I’m getting gifts that I’m going to like and are useful to me!
Edit: Blarg, the post kept thinking my <3 and </3 were HTML tags and tried to link the text in my entry so I had to edit it! Boo-urns I says.
