Last Minute Shopping

I have been whittling away at my list for the last three weeks. Every pay period allows me to check off someone else. Now I am down to 2 more people and I know exactly what I am planning to get for them. It is just a matter of dredging up the energy to battle the crowds and get these last two items (and then wrap them, of course). I took care of all the out of town presents that require mailing early on, the first round being sent at Thanksgiving time.

Today I am also taking care of getting stocking stuffers for Drew. I have not done a stocking for him for the last few years. It got so expensive. When I was a kid, I got 2 stockings - a HUGE one at my house and a normal sized one at my Grandmother's. Both were intended to keep excited children occupied and at bay while the adults either slept in or prepared the feast. I started doing just the huge stockings at home for the boys when they were young, but it became so expensive to fill them that I gave up.

Poor Drew never had the pleasure for long. Now that he is the only one left in the house, I decided it was time to provide him that experience and joy. Over the last few weeks, I have listened and tracked everything he expressed an interest in while we were out in the stores or while he was putzing around the house. I determined only to get what I could find at the dollar store - the one where everything really is only a dollar a piece. My limit is 20 items. A reasonable amount to spend on junk.

The store was crowded when I entered. Last minute shopping for lots of us I guess. There is a tremendous variety of stuff and I had so much fun wandering up and down the aisles picking out things I knew he would enjoy. From the kitchen aisle a red spatula, a coffee mug, and a white bowl scraper; from the tool aisle a screwdriver set with 20 interchangeable heads; from the toy aisle a transformer cube, a box of crayons and a truck shaped blue eraser. I remembered to get the cheap wrapping paper and a small felt stocking that would never hold all the presents. More fun when it spills out the top.

Lucky for me Drew is visiting with friends, leaving Sugar and I plenty of time to wrap all this stuff and tuck it away out of sight. Imagine the fun my Mom had doing this for 8 children! Makes your spine shiver just thinking about how each gift will bring a delighted smile to someone's face. Sort of like filling the Samaritan's Purse Shoeboxes. Oh what fun it is to wrap a stocking filled with toys!

I have to say though, I am glad the shopping is over for the season. I wish I could start in January and get presents each month - spread the labor out over time. I worry though that somehow by the time Christmas comes, the gift will no longer be appropriate. Guess I'll just have to keep putting up with the last minute scramble.