Christmas will not be cancelled this year!
This economy's hitting everyone pretty hard... This cartoon is © Aislin, inc. See more of Terry Mosher's work at aislin.com
This Christmas season is seeing a lot of folks either out of work or pinching pennies so hard their fingers hurt. Up here in the Vail Valley, it’s no different. With continuing news of layoffs and cutbacks, sales are down at Wal-Mart and elsewhere. If you just stand at the front of Wal-Mart and watch the carts go by, one thing is immediately apparent: they are full of groceries.
I believe there is a trend spreading, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. People are basically forced to getting back to the basics. All the cheap, Chinese-made goods may just be left on the shelves on Dec. 26 this year. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Nintendo Wii is as hot as ever, as well as it’s contenders, but that child may only be receiving the Wii and a couple of games instead of the endless list of action figures, etc.
People will be making this holiday season memorable, but it will be memories spent with their families around a home-cooked feast. Come Hell or high water, there will be Christmas this year!
As for me and my family, my wife and I have agreed that we will not buy each other a single gift. We bought a few for the kids, but we even returned a few gifts in order to make the meal as memorable as possible. I don’t bring this up to recieve pity. Actually, quite the opposite. I have a loving, understanding family that I am proud of and will be with this Christmas. (At least until 8PM, when I’ll have to work overnight to reset the store. Raise a glass to the founder of the feast!)
My point is, although many years past there have been similar pleas; this Christmas season, whether you’re rich or poor, please spend it with the ones you love and remember that it’s not about how many baubles you give and receive. It’s about counting your blessings and spending time with your loved ones. I only hope that the ‘back to basics’ trend continues when the economy bounces back.
Peace and Good Tidings,
-Justin
“Have a Merry, Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any tears.” -John Lennon
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Tags: Christmas, lifestyle design, Living
