Christmas Shopping

 

We haven't shopped for Christmas gifts in years. Being on a sailboat and in faraway places for the holidays has many advantages. Though it may be a double-edged sword at times because we miss our family, we certainly don't miss shopping for gifts. We send money electronically to our kids and grandkids … one size, one color fits all … and that's it. It's done.

Every once in awhile when we planned on coming back to the States for the holidays, we've done theme gifts. In Panama, we bought hats for everyone. One year we brought tagua from Ecuador. From Tonga, we sent carved bone and shell jewelry. Everyone got something and we called it a day.

On the boat, I bake a dozen mini-banana breads, wrap them in cellophane and tie a red ribbon around them. David might use some old line to make an ocean plait rug or two for special friends. We deliver them on Christmas morning. You'd never expect to do more nor receive more. We give each other tiny gifts … a token rather than anything expensive. David buys me a cute little ornament and he gets a new fish hook or something. It's the thought that counts and the sailing budget always takes precedence.

Not this year though. We're here and that niggling little shopping bug keeps stressing us out. What are we going to get for Suzie? What about Sam? Should we buy for Joe? How about Nick's girlfriend? Bea's personal caretaker has been great … maybe something for her? All those little incidentals and other people to buy for. We're just not used to even thinking about it.

We've eliminated some of the stress by agreeing with Lin and family not to buy for each other. Even so, the buy list seems long. The tradition between sisters is to trade Christmas stockings filled with goodies … more about that later … but no big gifts. Instead of oodles of huge gifts, we buy oodles of tiny gifts that fit into and must fill a stocking.

Stepping into WalMart recently was a nightmare. The parking lot was jammed. I was only there to buy vitamins and cat food, not to Christmas shop in earnest. Other shoppers had different plans in mind, however, and the lines were long and tedious. I left the vits and cat food behind. I think I'm not a good shopper any more and we've already established the fact that patience is not one of my virtues.

I'm buying stuff on-line just to avoid the in-store experience. I'm already tired of Christmas tunes that blare while I'm trying to pick out new underwear. Our experience at Kohl's the other day was other worldly. I'm sure the aisles and display counters were neat and appealing when the store opened, but by the time we arrived, it was sheer bedlam. The Black Friday sale prices were great and we each picked out a couple of things, but the place was chock-a-block full of loonies pushing and shoving and buying way too much stuff.

Lucky for us, a kind jewelry counter clerk offered to check us out without a wait because standing in the line that trailed along the entire inside perimeter of the store was just not in the cards for us. I now have two gifts purchased. We'll see what else develops. I need to get back on Amazon.

Decorating for Christmas

 

Our bare Christmas tree was relaxed sufficiently. It needed a little bling. We spent an entire day decorating the tree and the house for the holidays. After all, it's been days since Thanksgiving. November and all the leftovers have gone. It was time to put away the fall leaves and turkey stuff and get into the new season. The big wreath was hung from the upstairs window first. Then window boxes received an evergreen and red berry boost.

Lugging all those well worn boxes and tubs from the cellar is always a chore, but nobody really minds (or at least they didn't complain out loud). The mess in the dining room quickly grew out of control. Lin had a decorating plan and was hellbent to see it through. White electric candles were placed on the window sills. We needed lots of extra bulbs. You wonder what happens to them while they sit in their boxes and wait from year to year, but nary a one of them was willing to light up without some coaxing.

On board, we usually wind a garland of faux-greens around the mast and hang ornaments collected from countries we've visited during our passages. It's a good time to reminisce about all the places we've visited in our travels. David patiently listens to the stories, told over and over again. There's not much room to stow ornaments aboard, so all the decorations we have are small and all fit neatly into one small plastic tub which is tucked away at the back of an infrequently used locker. We've had lights when electricity was available and we could find them, but usually it's minimal decorating.

The untangling of long strands of colored lights is left to the guys. It's definitely a “blue” chore. They patiently unwind, check lights, replace as necessary. The gold star is placed on the top first and then they wind the strands around the tree.

We sing Christmas carols. We drink wine. We celebrate each ornament as we unwrap it and hang it on the tree. Rocking horses, nutcrackers, fragile blown glass balls, angels and stars … each bauble seems to have its own story to tell and it takes awhile because they only get to tell their story once a year. The tree is trimmed with fine, warm memories.

We always bring a trinket back for Lin from each place we visit and they find their way into the tree-trimming celebration, too.

Our indoor cats love all the decorations. They especially love the tree. The smell, the feel, (and probably) the taste of it. They nuzzle, rub, sniff and lay beneath it,looking up into the dense needled branches. They tug at ribbons and garlands. Unlike other years, both cats are a bit too chubby to try to climb the tree and for that we are thankful … no anchoring necessary.

And so, the house and tree are ready to celebrate the season. Spirits are high.

Now comes the Christmas shopping to fill up the space under the tree ... or shall we just wait for Santa to do his thing?

O Christmas Tree - Finding the Right Tree

 

Shopping for a Christmas tree is serious business. Lin likes getting a tree early, so it can be enjoyed all season long. We've chopped down our own trees in the past at Christmas tree farms, but being in an urban setting as we are now, it's easier to find a local nursery with a Christmas tree lot.

Choosing the right tree requires lots of patience since everyone has to agree that it's the right tree. It's almost a sacred ritual ... except when the temp is below freezing, then the sacred aspect is overtaken by the fact we're freezing our butts off and the decision-making process can, on occasion, suffer a bit.

Christmas trees trace their roots to pagan customs, as do many of our seasonal rituals. Long before Christianity adopted the custom, the evergreen was a symbol of life eternal in the midst of the dark days of winter and the cold and snow. The decorated Christmas tree can be traced back to the ancient Romans. They decorated trees with small pieces of metal during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture.

So what's our criteria for buying a tree. Well, first of all, it's got to be real. No pink, turquoise or flocked snow, and no artificial trees allowed. No Charlie Brown trees. It's got to be tall … but not too tall. It's got to be full … but not fat. There must be no bare spots. It must be shaped beautifully … but maybe have a flatter side, so it fits nicely against the wall or window. The top of the tree has to be perfectly formed to accommodate the single gold star we mount there. The trunk has to fit into the existing Christmas tree stand.

Despite the below freezing temps and the strict criteria, we managed to find the perfect tree, a fine Balsam fir, along with lots of other greenery in about 30 minutes.

We brought it home, set it in its stand, gave it a big drink of water and let it sit overnight to relax in its new home. Decorating will come later.