Christmas presents can be an emotional minefield.  As a kid there is that one thing that you really, really want, like the bb gun in “A Christmas Story” or a pony.   Very often that is the thing that you are not going to get.  In my family we tended to get a toy or two and utilitarian necessities, like underwear and socks.

Miss Revlon was the doll to get in 1960, before that upstart Barbie took over the doll market.  After Christmas in school, some kids would brag about how much loot they pulled in, so we would always lie, or at least exaggerate.  Halloween is a much more egalitarian holiday.

My brother and I went to one of the big downtown department stores (when such things existed) and had our picture taken with Santa.   We gave the picture to my white gran for Christmas, and she cut it down to this size.

As an adult, present buying has it’s own difficulties.   First:  as adults we have the ability to go out and buy whatever it is we want, except maybe that new BMW.    We don’t actually need anything, so you have to be more ingenious in figuring out what people might actually  like.   Secondly: there are those persons that you are obliged to give a gift to, but don’t really know, so you fall back on the sweet stuff, cookies, homemade candy or even fruitcake.   The recipient either eats this and lives to regret it, or re-gifts it onward.   Miss P likes to give out sacks of homemade dog biscuits, and so far no one has ever complained.    Okay, she doesn’t really want to give them out, she would much prefer to eat every single one herself.   But a girl (dog) has to watch her weight.

So Merry Christmas to All and God Bless Us Everyone.