Two weeks ago, I was talking about my stay in a tropical island and was sharing with you beach pictures. This week, change of scenery and temperature. We will talk about the December Holidays and celebrations.
I will not lie to you. Winter is not my favorite season. The cold, Christmas, the ice on the street, the icy winds that make you shiver to the bones. But most importantly, all my brothers and sisters were born in December, so a lot of birthdays to celebrate before the end of the year. Not that I do not love them and that I do not want to give them gifts, but it's a real nightmare to find appropriate gifts that will please them. I could have bought the first funny things that I see and pack them in pretty gift papers. However, my minimalist side often comes to hit me behind the back of my head in a friendly, but firm, little pat, to remind me that Christmas or birthdays are not opportunities to give useless gifts, which will land on a shelf or in a drawer to take the dust and that will end in oblivion.
It was therefore with the back of the head all red that I went in search of these ideal gifts. After a few hours spent on Google, Amazon, eBay, and some Chinese sales websites, my virtual baskets were all filled with books. I thought back to all of these times, when I had received one and also remember to that sad and disappointed smile that had followed. It was then that I realized that I was just a little piece of shit. Vexed and a little tired, I turned off my computer and then motivate myself to go shopping.
Some people love shopping, browsing the shelves, touching and trying products... That is not one of my favorite activities. Finally, like all winters, I was walking through la FNAC shelves — a French retail chain selling cultural and electronic products — stuck like all of other zombies who had not found anything yet but who kept hope with a CD of Disney songs in hand, convinced to have found THE perfect gift.
After 30 minutes waiting in the queue, lucidity struck me hard. I dropped the “Holy Grail”, where I could and left the store. My minimalism side thanked me by kissing my forehead. Previously, I would have even left the mall to take a cigarette break, and during these few minutes, I would have taken a step back, put things flat, and reconsidered those objects that I had a few hours earlier removed from my list. .. Then I would have gone back to the quest. This would have continued a few hours. But since I quit smoking, well, I could not take a step back on what's done... I gave up and left this chore to the future me. Too bad for him. Days and weeks passed, my future me did not seem preoccupied at all.
Christmas is not his favorite holiday. Anyway, he does not celebrate Christmas. On the evening of December 24, it's his brother's birthday. 7 days to go before Christmas evening, still no reaction.2 days before Christmas, a text message from one of his sisters gave him a small booster shot. But he still had 24 hours to complete this task; it was more than enough... D-day, time flies and 3 hours before my brother’s birthday, I still haven’t bought any gift... Wonderful strategy! Thank you, me from the past.
The slow zombies with the rather neutral faces of the past weeks — some seemed even happy — had turned into zombies in a hurry, nervous and surly. Then this time, still queuing at the checkouts of la FNAC, I thought back to the weeks that had passed and that had not led me very far from the starting point. Actually I was still at the same spot, except that this time, I had a CD of Patrick Bruel, a French singer, the Disney’s song Best of was out of stock... Then, like the last time, a moment of lucidity, I put down the CD and turned to the safe gifts whatever the situation is: A bottle of alcohol and chocolate. After all, it is Christmas, chocolate fits within the theme. It's not my fault if my brother was born on Christmas Eve. My minimalist side is not upset, but gift level of personalization and fun are really really low...that is some kind of generic gift you give to people you don’t know or when you are invited to meet unknown people… A book could have been better... Too bad, I was already late for the diner with the family. Sorry brother... The chocolate box was from me. I'll do better next time. : p
Happy Holidays to all of you. Haapy new years :D
Kitofoto