Something Special for Christmas: Gift Cards - Bah, Humbug

It's Christmas morning and I can't believe it. The tree looks wonderful, with all the family decorations and a few that we added last year. It even smells good; the smell of the tree makes me think of my hometown of Longview, Texas when I was growing up. I think I'll even plug the lights back in just because I love the colors. All the gifts look as if Martha Stewart or my favorite B. Smith did all the wrapping. The bows accessorize the gifts just right. Locating that special gift for that special person may take a while, but it's well worth it.

There's a little chill in the air so I guess I need to turn the heat up just a little so that the rest of the family won't get cold when they get up. Maybe I'll open up the blinds, it would be nice if it had snowed last night. Just a touch to cover the bushes would be just perfect. The smell of coffee mixes with the scent of the tree and it is heavenly.

Under the tree there is the gift for my sister. She is forever talking about books by this certain author. My sister thinks this author can tell a story, personally I don't, but I want to see her face when she opens this gift. Recently I heard the author would be at a local bookstore. I took the day off, bought the book, listened to this boring author talk about boring books that she had written, stood in a line for God knows how long for her to sign it for my sister. But she is my sister and I love her dearly, nothing is too much for her. Her gift is lovingly wrapped in her favorite royal blue with a perky white bow.

My friend loves butterflies and scarves so I search every department store in North Texas all year long looking for just the right scarf with butterflies on it. Most of the ones I see are not "the one", but I eventually find what I'm looking for in a small East Texas town called Jefferson. It is just the right size with just the right color butterflies. She is going to love it. Her gift is wrapped in her favorite crimson with a creamy white bow.

All year long my oldest has been telling me about this scent she loves to smell. She claims that this scent soothes her; it takes her away from the pressures on her job. She can't remember the name of fragrance, she can only remember the shape of the bottle, and we've looked in every store, but to no avail. So while I was on vacation this summer, I located the fragrance at this small out-of-the-way store in the state of Arkansas. They have a website, so I ordered lotion, perfume, cologne-you name it she will have it. She will be able to get away around the world with all of this. The gift arrives already wrapped, but I decide to put it in this magnificent bag of pink and green that I've been saving for someone special.

My husband, my love, my friend, has not purchased any music since the original Temptations broke up. All of his music is on vinyl. We still have a turntable, and we use it. Recently he recorded some music to cassettes. His children are going to be so proud of him-he will now be able to play his music in his car and not sound scratchy. The Temptations are on CD-the complete works of the "original" Temptations, you know David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, etc., not those people who are under the age of 50. I even wrapped his gift in his fraternity colors of purple and gold. I made it look good.

All of these gifts and others are carefully arranged around the tree. They are arranged so that they complement the tree, sort of like earrings-they make the outfit.

I start to think about gifts for Christmas on January 1 of the new year. I listen all year long to things that people wish for. Things they casually mention. I believe that a gift should come from the heart and be something that a person desires. Opening up a gift should be exciting. It should make you want to hurry and see what is inside the package.

The celebrities can keep their gift cards and be in a hurry to find a gift. I think the only good gift card is one from a coffee shop since you can't gift wrap an extra hot, tall, nonfat latte.