What I really want for Christmas

It is amazing. "The Holidays", as we call them, are upon us. In a week and two days time, I'll be stuffing my face with turkey and mashed potatoes, followed by a healthy serving of pumpkin pie. That's what I do for Thanksgiving, because it's awesome like that.

And then shopping season, of sorts, begins.

Lilian will require birthday gifts, and Christmas gifts (yes, it's true, I'm an athiest or agnostic, or something like that, but I do love Christmas), and Sergey gets a treat for New Years (damn Russians). Then there will be gifts for office mates (typically in the form of me bringing up coffee for the group), something for my family members, and this and that.

But, more importantly, I'll be receiving gifts (whoever said Christmas is a time for giving obviously has never received anything rad in their lives). This becomes a tricky situation every year.

See, I happen to be quite finnicky with what I want, and it changes regularly. For clothing, if I don't participate in the purchase, I likely don't wear it. I find myself with fewer need for house wares than most. I have all of the entertainment things I need (although, I confess, I would gladly accept a cherry red Les Paul Special, but that's just being greedy), and even a few that are completely superfluous (although, again, I wouldn't say "no" to a PS3).

So, what's a girl to ask for?

Well, all things considered, I don't really want anything directly. I've watched over the last year as our economy in this country and state have gone south. I've watched friends lose their jobs, only to become perpetually unemployed. I've seen more and more people living in squalor, and more and more services being cut due to budget constraints (although SHARE/WHEEL may very well deserve it).

So this year, I am going to say very clearly that Christmas is very much a time for giving. And everyone else should do the same.

That's not to say that we shouldn't continue with our consumer friendly ways. Consuming is a good thing. It allows us the opportunity to create more jobs. But perhaps it would be better to consume by purchasing toys and donating them to Toys for Tots instead of giving ten shiny new pieces of plastic to children that already have plenty. (http://www.toys4tots.org/)

Perhaps it would be better to purchase a boat load of socks and donate them to Heroes for the Homeless. (http://www.heroesforthehomeless.com/)

Perhaps it would be better to purchase a couple warm jackets, and donate them to St. Francis House, where they'll be freely distributed to those most in need. (http://www.svdpseattle.org/StFrancis.htm)

Or the good old fashioned purchasing of food, and donating it to your local food bank (and by food, I mean actual edible stuff, not cans and cans of clam chowder, or whatever is on sale).

We can still be consumers (which is good for the economy), while also doing something good for others. And for those thinking about getting me a gift (or paying down my credit cards ;-)), buy socks. Lots and lots of socks. I'm just going to give everything away, anyways.