Shopping blues

Today, I went Christmas shopping. Most things had already been taken care of, I just had a few odds and ends to pick up. Normally, I quite enjoy going shopping at Christmas. I don't mind the crowds at all. I like to browse through shop after shop, eventually I'll spy the one item that I think "yes, so-and-so would love that!"

And so it goes. Well, that's how it normally goes. Not today.

Is it just me or are all the stores the same, selling all the same junk for the same over-price? There is no variety, no uniqueness, no quality. In one afternoon, the joy of Christmas was pegged back a couple of notches. I was reminded of it's consumer focus, one-up-manship, slap on some tinsel and call me Santa fakeness.

Can I ban department stores at Christmas please? Can I pass a law so that you have to think about why you give gifts to be allowed to participate? Should there be a Christmas citizenshipesque test that you have to pass before you can get your tickets? Please, everyone prick your finger and sign your name in blood, that you shall only give one gift per person.

Every store I went into was the same. Same products, same prices, same storefronts, same displays, same music playing, blah blah blech! I was so disillusioned.

But I'm not cranky. I know that the kids will love what they unwrap from Santa. I know that we'll all stuff ourselves and have an afternoon nap. I know that I'll laugh at the Panel Christmas Wrap. It will be all good, in the end.

Wouldn't it be great if it snowed too?

In my letter to Santa, I asked him to bring me peace.

Inner peace.