Cherry Adair Talks the Spirit of Giving

I gave myself a hysterectomy for Christmas. No, no. I don’t mean I wheeled myself into the OR wielding a freaking scalpel, get a grip – I faint at the sight of blood, especially my own!! Surgery, pre-Christmas, was my gift to myself this year. I hoped for the best, and expected the worst, so I ordered, (love the internet!) shopped and wrapped before I went in last week.

For me, Christmas 2006 has been cancelled.

Too bad, because I feel fabulous. Where the hell are the themed Christmas trees in every room? The light extravaganza? The usual overdone, overwrought Christmas crap I adore? Damn it, I miss my famous Christmas parties. (so, apparently, do the people who have called and emailed to politely ask if they have been crossed off The List. ☺) I don’t even have out my Christmas front door mat.

Nothing.

Nada.

I could race out and do it all now I suppose. But no. I’ll consider Christmas 2006 a palate cleanser. The champagne sorbet of holidays. Between naps, I’ll watch all those Christmas decorating shows on HGTV and make notes for 2007.

It’s weird NOT to be running around like a BAF (that would be Blue Arsed Fly) this close to the 25th.

Everything (little as it is) has been done.

I wonder what David is getting me for Christmas.

My husband is very fond of ‘theme’ presents for both Christmas and birthdays. I think it’s because by going ‘theme’ he doesn’t have to ponder ‘what else to buy.’ Basically it’s one stop (one thought) shopping.

One Christmas he did all things Gone With The Wind. I got the DVD, the book --leather bound-- a poster, a Scarlett doll, and if I remember GWTW oven gloves. (the fact that I’m not a ‘doll’ person is, apparently, irrelevant in times of indecision. The image of me wearing an apron is too ludicrous to imagine. ☺)

Another year we had a very Muppet Christmas – that was interesting. Kirmet and Fozzie bear toys, DVD’s, books, and …an apron.

I’ve had a small Appliance Christmas. (Just how many spiral curling irons does a woman really need?) Just because there were four different brands in four different colored boxes didn’t mean I needed (or wanted) them all. (they made lovely re-gifts however) That Christmas I also received three interesting personal vibrators.

Curling irons and vibrators. Hmm.

Then there was the baking Christmas extravaganza. The Cuisinart, the half dozen cookie sheets, the dozen cookbooks, and the lovely set of wooden spoons- each individually wrapped. And of course – the apron.

One of my favorites (In retrospect, because I was NOT a happy camper at the time!!) Was the Walgreens Christmas . The Deluxe version.. (One has to picture each of these items individually wrapped, tied with a ribbon no less.) David must have wheeled his cart down every aisle – slowly. I received five different sizes of PERM ROD. Three different sizes of FOAM CURLERS, ethnic hair straightener, red hair dye (not my red, just a red!) Black hair dye (??) and blonde dye (??) I was also the lucky recipient of two electric razors, depilatory cream (3 boxes – Apparently I’m perceived as extremely hairy. Who knew?!) a lovey three pack of thin (useless) toweling turbans for after my shower. Three different types of bubble bath. And OdorEaters inserts for my shoes. (Smelly and hairy apparently. How sadly unattractive!!)

It’s not that I’m not incredibly grateful for his gifts – but the man needs help. And a lot of it. Now I chose a store (more than one is confusing apparently!) and I select a bunch of whatever I want. Jewelry, shoes, clothes, books – whatever. He goes in and picks whatever he likes from my pre selection. This works extremely well. So far so good. The problem is – the older I get, the less I need or want. If I want it, I get it for myself when I want it. (Aries aren’t fond of waiting for anything) And frankly I don’t need anything. I’m extremely lucky. There are people out there who need. . .everything.

This year, I asked David to match my $’s for Toy’s For Tots. (Here is the link for the Marine’s TOYS FOR TOTS program http://toysfortots2006.com/google/home.html) The day before my surgery I dragged him (reluctantly) into the Dollar Store and got him to help me fill a dozen carts with toys for underprivileged kids. It didn’t take him long to get into the spirit of Christmas. He did the boys, I did the girls. It took hours. We had a blast. It was soooo much fun choosing great toys for well deserving children. He took me for a lovey Italian lunch before we drove to our local Fire Department to drop off 600 toys. There weren’t enough bins to hold our toys, and we piled them on the floor, almost blocking the lobby of the Fire station. WAY cool.

Then I used the money earmarked for his present and we went to a local discount store and bought winter coats for kids, and took those to a local collection site that gives warm coats to Foster Children. I made sure the coats were just as hip and cool as they were practical and warm, then pinned a $5.00 bill in each pocket.

And one of my favorite presents of all – We bought several dozen live chickens from Heifer International. An amazing program that helps people help themselves, with gifts that keep on giving. One can give the gift of a cow (or a part of a cow – several people contribute to giving the entire live animal – it doesn’t go in pieces!!) or chickens or other livestock. (http://www.heifer.org/) I wanted to send myself a dozen live chicks just to see how they are wrapped, but resisted. ☺

We decided that this Christmas will probably be one of our best so far. Instead of racking our brains for ‘stuff’ just to have ‘stuff’, we bought gifts with our hearts. We bought things each of us wanted and needed. For other people.

And isn’t that the Spirit of Christmas?

Stay sane and safe,
Smooches

Cherry

Pssst: Susan here. Don't miss Cherry's "Edge of" Books! I'm talkin' hot men, cool intrique. Who can ask for anything more?