A Simple Christmas

Gift-getting really isn’t my thing. I like Christmas, I like presents, but they are not my favorite part of the holidays.

Be alarmed, a girl that totally admits to being into clothes-and-make-up-and-accessories is now admitting that she doesn’t really care about all that . . . crap.

I guess that it comes down to the fact that people spending money on me makes me feel more like a burden than a blessing. And the holidays are about blessings, giving them and remembering them.

Sitting on my couch watching old “Home Alone” movies, and the star on top of the Christmas tree blink on and off, sends me more into a mood of nostalgia than greedy present-grubbying-gift-peeking self-interest. This is the way I like it.

If you took an X-ray of my Christmas stocking I think the truth would be visible. Colorfully wrapped in red and silver would be some tweezers, a box of animal crackers, hairspray, probably an orange and maybe a five dollar gift card to Peet’s Coffee.

The gift-giving tradition I am used to means taking utmost pleasure in the quality of the time spent on each other and not the quantity (or cost) of gifts.

I might even be unhappy if a beautiful MacBook Air was wrapped up and placed under the tree. There is nothing like a computer to steal away the precious time spent with family and the simple joy that comes from not spending over our budget and appreciating each other, not each other’s credit card debt.

But that materialism and commercialism is an aspect of the holiday season. Even Thanksgiving is overshadowed by Black Friday, the annual shopping day where people can go and spend money they don’t have on things they don’t need or on presents that are still out of their budget.

There has got to be more to Christmas than the credit-card hangovers and the fatigue that comes in January.

My stocking, usually filled by my parents, consists of the treats that I love most, and the things I “borrow” on occasion from their room. Practical, maybe. Hilarious? Definitely.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I enjoy the gratitude that sweeps over me for that Target shirt or headband from Forever 21 I get from my sisters. This is what Christmas gifts should feel like.

In the spirit of the economy, I feel like this makes more than perfect sense.

Plus think of “Home Alone.” There are so many fun little things that you can try that are much more exciting than shopping. Like setting ropes on fire and building traps and dumping water on someone just for the heck of it.

Christmas should be fun, not hectic and not a burden.

And the nostalgia reminds me of the days of Christmas-past. I have no clue what I got for Christmas in those years. I don’t even remember what I received for Christmas last year and frankly, I don’t care.

Gosh, I’m different.

Think about your neighbor or your friend (so we don’t make this too personal) and how much money they spend on decorations, fancy food, expensive toys, holiday drinking and every other thing that the holidays are known for.

Believe me that “joy” lasts for approximately one day, maybe a week, and then the bill arrives.

But this isn’t really about money. It is about taking pleasure in the little things, in family, in friends, in fireplaces and hot chocolate.

So if you’re thinking about getting me a Christmas gift this year, don’t bother. Making me sugary, starchy cookies and watching “A White Christmas” with me is probably a better idea. I mean, obviously I am not good at receiving presents and I won’t spend a fortune on you.

But a fortune to one man is just bullcrap to another. The best gift you can give is truly the simplest: your love, your time, your energy, yourself.

Christmas is a time for sappy emotions and corny decorations. . .

And maybe some presents.