I'M BEGINNING TO GET THE CHRISTMAS JITTERS

Are you like me?  Do you start worrying about Christmas right after Halloween?  It seems like that's the turning point for me.  I start to worry about what to get the grandkids, who are getting older and older, and who's gifts cost more and more money.  Our youngest daughter has 3 children, ranging from 8 yrs old to 15 years old.  None of them wants anything that's in a reasonable price range.  I always wanted a pony when I was a child, but I also always knew that I was never really going to get one.  One year I wanted a ukulele and got that.  I was thrilled to death!  And I played that thing for a long time - until I had the money to buy my own guitar, which our daughter now has and plays.  We got bows and arrows, board games, clothes (boo hoo), and toys that we had fun with, but they were affordable.  Thee were no expensive electronics.  Now, nothing kids want is affordable, and it seems that we get so wrapped up in the gift-buying that we loose track of the Reason for the Season.  Have you heard that before?  Of course you have. 

On Thanksgiving Day, our family gets together and we draw names among the adults.  That helps.  Then we can each spend money on the grandchildren as we want...... or as they deserve.  Ha!!  I think we'll probably go to our daughter's in Nashville this year for Christmas.  I'd love to go to Florida, but traveling during the Christmas season is just not my cup of tea.  Airlines are always late, and traffic is a total madhouse.  Last year, on Christmas Day, we were home alone for the first time.  It felt so strange, and I can't say I liked it.  It was just strange.  Our kids didn't arrive until the next day.  Then it was chaos for 4 days.  Oh well, I have another month and a half to worry and shop.  Then peace.