Christmas List by Soren

When I was younger, my Christmas list was already several pages long by Halloween. And even while I was in college, it still wasn't too difficult to come up with a list of things that I really wanted but just wasn't able to buy. But now that I'm an adult, making a Christmas list is pretty difficult. First, my worldly possessions fill either a modest house or a large moving van, and I am reluctant to accumulate more. Second, my wish list has shifted towards intangible or ungiftable items, like a play-day with Emily, a night out with Mandy, success at work, or six seasons and a movie of Community. And finally, in the times that I decide that I really do want to acquire something that costs about what a reasonable Christmas present would, I can do so almost without a second thought. Internet retailing has allowed me to indulge myself so easily that the only things that stay on my wishlist for more than a few weeks cost hundreds (new laptop) to tens of thousands (new car) of dollars. Impulse buys throughout the year deplete my list of pretty much everything that I could reasonably suggest that someone else to buy me for Christmas.

On the other hand, when I was a kid I took for granted being around my family during Christmas. And now that I'm older and we live in five different states, I'm looking forward to seeing my parents and siblings more than I am looking forward to discovering just how much stuff I get to pack into the trunk of my car and schlep all the way back to DC. So the material and commercial aspects of Christmas have become less important than the familial and communal aspects, though not because I have become less materialistic or less of a consumer. And I have the feeling that the commercial aspects are going to recover their importance once Emily starts making a Christmas list of her own. But I think that it will become even harder to make my own list once I start enjoying Christmas presents vicariously through my kids.

That said, if you, Gentle Reader, think that my waning enthusiasm for Christmas qua commercial event is a terrible tragedy that can be remedied only by buying me a CTS-V wagon in Thunder Grey, I'm sure that Lynn White, the Internet Sales Manager of Lindsay Cadillac in Alexandria, will be happy to take your call.