Ready for Christmas?

I’m not, but then that’s not extraordinary for me. There’s still tomorrow and Christmas Eve.

And I take comfort that I’m not alone in trying to find that “perfect” gift. I know I’ll have company just about anywhere I go. Those final hours can be some of the most productive and entertaining.

You would think that being up against the deadline shoppers would be frantic, grabbing just about anything so as to have something to put under the tree that night. As a veteran Christmas Eve shopper, I haven’t found that the case. It’s not to say people are relaxed, enjoying the experience and lolling the time away for the fun of it. Rather, there’s a sense of resignation, if not relief, that the end is in sight and what will be, will be. You don’t find that on Black Friday or the days leading up to Christmas Eve. Shoppers have their lists and are in search of deals. They are intent, focused and driven by purpose.

They don’t want to talk and, with few exceptions, don’t return a smile. It’s the Christmas harvest, and they’re anxious to be done with it.

That will change Thursday, I promise you.

Sure, you will encounter those rushing in to pick up an extra roll of tape or a few stocking stuffers. They’re in and out and on their way.

It’s the others I’m talking about, the procrastinators who may have done a bit of shopping and are now faced with the prospect of being virtually empty-handed come Christmas. It’s a group that won’t succumb to the easy way out – a card with a check – even though that may be just what the recipient wants.

It makes for a bond. You’re in it together.

As for a list, if they haven’t got it by Christmas Eve, then it’s likely they’re not going to get it. They are faced with finding something else.

It’s when giving gets creative.

I know; it’s happened to me.

Carol loves browsing catalogues, which choke the mailbox beginning in mid-October. She makes quick work of some, especially those with stick-thin models whose legs look to have been photo-shopped extra long to accentuate outlandish attire. It’s when she slows down and starts folding back the corner of pages that I take note. On such occasions I’ve taken the initiative and ordered what’s caught her fancy. The problem is that once it’s arrived she can’t bare waiting to try it on, which leaves me nothing for Christmas.

So, several years ago I abandoned the catalogue and decided to surprise her. That was fine until it got down to Christmas Eve and I still didn’t have my surprise. I cruised the mall, finding a sympathetic group of likeminded procrastinators. As I said, they’re a friendly group, and after being told more than once that I couldn’t go wrong with jewelry, I paid Rodney a visit at Place Jewelers.

It’s easy to get carried away at Place, but Rodney is good at finding something that works with your budget. I settled on an amethyst ring that was more red than purple. Now that I had the gift, the challenge would be to wrap it without her seeing it or guessing what it was if placed under the tree.

I thought of putting the tiny box within a giant one. It was then that I thought of wrapping it in red paper and hanging it from the bird feeder. Carol loves cardinals, and sure enough on Christmas morning she excitedly announced a cardinal was at the feeder. That was until she took a closer look. The ring was a hit and has been called “the cardinal” ever since.

I’ll be out there Christmas Eve in hopes of finding such inspiration again. And should that fail, I have all those catalogues with folded pages that I could package up with my credit card and a note that she go on a post-Christmas shopping spree. Who knows, that could work.