Christmas Spirit

This year I decided to put words into action and try something different. Instead of the mountainous collection of presents that typically greet my kids on Jesus' birthday, we opted for what is euphemistically known as an"alternative Christmas." Vague but terse, and way better than the long winded "Christmas has become obscenely expensive so we're trying a different approach" explanation.

Each of us are supposed to get the others a thoughtfully inexpensive gift. By popular demand, we'll carry on the family's traditions, but we've decided to give some of our hard-earned lucre to our favorite non-profits in the name of the Wade Family. Once the morning rituals are concluded, the new plan calls for us to pile into the car for a fun afternoon and evening in my favorite city on earth -- New York City.

As they say, the devils in the details.

I've come to the conclusion that thoughtful and inexpensive are mutually exclusive. All the things I know my family would like are insanely expensive and all the things that are cheap are not thoughtful. It's a dilemma.

Then there's this thing about spending -- not money but time. I wanted each of us to spend a little time each day thinking about something other than ourselves, which to me is the meaning of Christmas. I figure if Jesus could die to save us, the least we can do is take a minute-and-a-half out of our busy schedules to think about the other guy whether we know him or not. To help the fam get into the spirit, I've been emailing little reflections. Not a bad idea, right? Well the response rate on a good day is 50%. One of my sons even chided me (gently) that I shouldn't make this like a homework assignment. Why not, I ask?

Finally there's the piling into the car for a day in NYC. Seems simple enough, but our car situation is a bit sketchy. I used to have an old heep, but because of a wee fender bender the insurance company wrote it off. Now I drive my daughter's car while she's away at college, but when she's home, I'm without wheels. And this for a girl born and raised in California, is a travesty of enormous proportions. The other problem is that no one owns a car that comfortably holds 5 long-legged adults. Even to a simpleton the answer is to take the train, but I'd have to drug my husband to get him on-board.

Still it's a start. And to that I say Hallelujah.