Every year my mother insists that I, as well as each one of my siblings, accompany her on a Christmas Shopping Trip to pick out gifts for ourselves.
I think that this tradition started in 1970. The reason that I remember this date so well is that I clearly recollect how badly I reacted to the gifts I got from my parents at Christmas, 1969.
I was a highschool freshman that year. I'd asked my parents for a new shirt and some jewelry, and what I got was (in my 13 year-old brain anyway) the most hideous and thoughtless bunch of gifts that any hormone-crazed pubescent girl ever received for Christmas. And I let EVERYBODY know it. Loudly. After that, Mom decided that the only safe way to avoid a repeat performance of my Holiday Hystryonics was to establish the Shopping Day Tradition. 34 years later, we're still doing it. Today was the big day.
The thing that makes this annual trip more difficult every year is that, as I grow older, my need for stuff diminishes. I love the fact that Mom wants to get me something that I really want, but I really don't want or need anything. What I'd prefer is that we just wander an upscale mall, window shop, and go out for a nice lunch/dinner, and not focus on WHAT I WANT.
I'm happy to announce that we kind of did that today. My sister and her 15-year-old son joined us. And a reasonably good time was had by all. Here are the highlights:
- We had breakfast at the new IHOP (International House Of Pancakes) that just went up in a strip mall near where I live. Where I understand that chowing at the IHOP does not exactly qualify as upscale dining, I am happy to report that the cheese blintzes with strawberry jam and sour cream as just as good now as they were when I was in college (of course in college, the blintzes were consumed at 3 in the morning after a night of drunken debauchery...which does add a bit of flavor...)
- I found a new place to get my hair cut. Where this does not, on the surface, seem like a great accomplishment, I have been struggling with hair maintenance lately. As I reported earlier, I found the scumbag who owned my former favorite hair place several months ago, and he did a wonderful job. Unfortunately, I hate him. As much as I need a haircut, and some serious colorwork right now, the thought of going back to him, GENIUS that he is, was just too much to bear. Now I have an appointment to at least trim up the mess that is currently on my head. It will give me time to plan my next hair move.
- The hairdresser is located at an outlet that also sells my favorite makeup, fragrances, bath stuff, etc. My Christmas gift from Mom will be a gift certificate for this place. I love that we found one one-stop-shopping, and solved my Christmas Gift dilema at the same time. Oh, Happy Happy Joy Joy!
- We had dinner at a new Italian place near the makeup/foo-juice/hair emporium. And it was wonderful. The food was great, and the waitstaff turned me on to a new way to really enjoy great tiramisu...have it with a tiny glass of sherry. Awesome.
The worst part of The Holidays is over for me...now I can just hang out and be merry...
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