The Greatest Gift

There have just been a few gift requests I can remember making in adulthood—I asked for a telescope for my birthday one year, and last year I asked for a bottle of Chanel and a camera for Christmas. I remember getting the telescope which is now in the trash, and although I didn't get the perfume or camera, I bought those things for myself in January.

I just don't think in terms of what I might want as a gift. That could mean that I buy what I want when I want it—like the perfume and the camera—or that could mean I'm not a big shopper. Or maybe it's a combination of two things. This year when No. 1 asked what I wanted for Christmas, I sent her a link to boots I think I might need this winter while walking the dog out there in the big winter wonder land, and I pointed her to Crabtree & Evelyn's La Source body wash. I don't know what's in the stuff, but I'm hooked. Other than that, I don't want or need or have expectations for anything.

Even my sisters are considering a scaled back gift exchange this year. For a long time, we've drawn names, but this time they're thinking about drawing the name of an entire family unit, cutting down on gifts. This whole shift in how we celebrate Christmas inspired today's column for Small Town Newspaper.

Today, I received two phone calls, one Facebook message, one Open Salon comment and one face-to-face exchange thanking me for this column. I think I've struck a nerve here. And I think there are a lot of people out there who are tired of things.

I'll admit I would love a bottle of La Source for Christmas, but finding it under the tree won't make or break the holiday.