Now that I’ve put away my Christmas decorations…
(For real. This is no tall tale. Just ask my friend Greg who came over one night in late January to install my new iMac ó I call him my “Mac daddy”ó and stopped short in front of our dining room, where the tree still stood in the corner surrounded by melting snowmen, crumpled stockings and tired Santas, as well as empty Rubbermaid containers awaiting their cargo.
“This makes me feel so good,” Greg said.
If my inability to rid our house of candy canes and carolers before the groundhog appears every year can help a friend feel better about the state of his own home, then I stand proudly next to my tannenbaum in early-to-mid February.)
So now that I’ve put away the decorations and my patient husband has lugged the last reindeer up to the attic, I can finish my final post-Advent chore.
Rewriting The List.
Starting after Thanksgiving, I carry in my purse several invaluable possessions, The Gift Lists. These lists are so critical that I would consider making copies and putting them in our safe deposit box.
If we had a safe deposit box.
I begin each Christmas season by reviewing the file appropriately titled, “Christmas gift lists.” I study last year’s list and the year before that.
If needed, I could go back to the very first list from 1994, where I can tell you that we bought my mom the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook (remember Forrest Gump?), my dad a set of Supreme Court audiotapes (remember cassettes?), my sister Merilee a wind chime and my sister Laura an angel.
I could also tell you how much each of these gifts cost, but that would be tacky.
However, within the bounds of good taste I can reveal that both sisters’ gifts went well over budget by $5 and $3, so poor Grandma Peg got flannel pajamas that year instead of silk.
Having reviewed all previous gift giving, I then make a new list, jotting down ideas for each recipient. We give many things in a series, like books and ornaments. So I carry around several years’ worth of lists to help me remember who’s already got what.
Last December at Critters, I pulled out my list at the cash register to cross off my purchases, which is of course the very best part of listing.
The owner said he had seen some lists in his time, but mine took the cake. I showed him my lists from 2006 and 2005 and he nearly fell over.
Now I will spend a few minutes rewriting my 2007 list, remembering what we gave each person and how much I enjoyed shopping for him or her.
I will file it away, next to the lists including the flagpole for Aunt Barbara (1996), the Hornets ballcap for cousin Todd (1997) and the Swingline stapler for Uncle Mark (2000).
I also have extensive lists for monthly expenses, ongoing projects and, of course, groceries and errands. Lists minimize chaos and help bring some order to my world.
Listing runs in my family. Years ago I was shopping with Aunt Dawn, buying supplies for a party. I found something crucial that wasn’t on the list and threw it in the cart.
When I pointed it out, she said, “Add it to the list so you can cross it off!”
I already had.
nnnEmily Ford covers the N.C. Research Campus.