Several things occur around the beginning of the holidays. For years this was around the time that I would become desperately homesick. I can see this in a few of my co-workers who are operating far from home. They start talking a lot about their folks back in Wisconsin, how much they miss them, what they usually have for Thanksgiving. This is the first year since 1999 that I am located closely to my family. No more holiday flights, airport jams, or travel exhaustion. When I lived in Colorado I always had a low nagging that I was simply too far away from home. Holiday season just increased the feeling. There were times when I would return to F.C. after two weeks in Portland and I would boo hoo the moment I walked into my front door.
Another thing that occurs is an overwhelming desire to shop. I’d like to say I’m shopping for others for the holiday but nay, I’m thinking solely of myself. Sure, I take inventory of a few items that friends and family might enjoy. But, largely, the shopping is done with my own personal needs in mind. Take yesterday for example: Kris and I wandered all over Seattle and I probably picked up a small item at every mall shop and department store we perused. OK, perhaps that’s an exaggeration; there was no way I could afford anything in the Diesel store. Everything I bought was on sale: 3 pack of socks for six bucks at Hot Topic, three dollar t-shirt from Urban Outfitters, discounted sweater from Express, and well, it was pouring rain, so I had to buy an umbrella at Nordstrom’s Rack. Than I bought a down comforter off overstock and threw in a Pilates DVD with it, (c’mon it’s 1 dollar shipping all weekend!) I have to say that in retrospect my shopping is really pretty practical. Did I buy the tempting pair of $100 jeans? Or the $75 Sanita boots? No, and they were on sale too!