I, like many, struggle more and more with Christmas shopping each year. What do I buy the people that already have so much and don't need anything nor ask for anything. Then there is the whole struggle with trying to stay in budget (broke college student problems). There is also the struggle with having to possibly buy a gift for someone who may or may have gotten you a gift already. When will it ever get easier? The answer is never, but here are the stages of Christmas shopping for your enjoyment.
Stage 1: Finally you got a brief moment to slip out of the house with the list of all the people you need to shop for. You get to the point where you need to park the car and you can't because everyone else decided to park in the parking lot two blocks away from the mall just like you.
Some guy just cut you off for a spot. It's okay it's not like I was waiting for that one anyway. I will just take the next one, it's cool bro!
Stage 2: When you have just had it already. I am just going to create my own spot, right here...
Stage 3: Now you finally walked those two blocks to the store and the plan is to divide and conquer. "GET IN, AND GET OUT. THAT'S THE MISSION."
Stage 4: You may end up saying things that you don't mean to say...
Stage 5: When you start to run out of ideas for gifts and the bouncy balls are on sale. "YOU GET A BOUNCY BALL, AND YOU GET A BOUNCY BALL. EVERYONE GET'S A BOUNCY BALL!"
Stage 6: Too bad you can't get Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake to come to your Christmas. If you got them you would be set in terms of Christmas gifts for years to come. I mean seriously, how awesome are they?!
Stage 7: You could always give them a nice picture of you in a nice frame. That's going to look great on the fireplace!
Stage 8: When people say christmas shopping is easy... You must not have to shop for anyone.
Stage 9: When you only need that one gift left and you went to seven stores to find it, but you finally have found it..
Stage 9: Then you realize they only have one and another person is going for it too. "IT'S GO TIME!"
Stage 10: That moment you realize you lost the battle. You may not have gotten the tickle me Elmo but don't worry, remember you got 138132690 bouncy balls so you are covered. Even Aunt Martha's going to just love hers!
Stage 11: Maybe you can just regift some stuff you already have at home. "Hey, you don't need that winter coat right?"
Stage 12: When you finally get to the register and need to pay but they don't take credit cards. You've got to be kidding me right.
Stage 13: It's cool, I brought cash as back up....
Stage 14: You finally got the gifts, and even though you are almost to the car you realize they never doubled the bags and now the weight is just too much to handle. Maybe Aunt Alyssa will love the crack in her candle. Just think, it adds character.
No matter what you buy, just remember it's the thought that counts! And after all Christmas is about Ohana, and Ohana means family.
If the shopping doesn't go as planned, give the gift of Christmas spirit! Remember what you have today and always, is more important than anything you get under the tree or from someone. It's always the thought that counts!
