Thursday 13 December 2018

It's Christmas


It's Christmas time once again. My favourite time of the year. And although we always say that this year we will be minimalist and not overspend there's always a reason why we should buy this and that.

This year, bringing forth my Ebenezer Scrooge nature, I wrote to all relatives and friends making a pact of some sort. I suggested we don't buy presents for each other but instead we say a little prayer for each other. It's a much more valuable gift and costs nothing in monetary funds to my ailing wallet. Also, we could give some of the money not spent on expensive gifts to a charity of our choice.

Most agreed to this suggestion. At least, by not responding to my e-mail I took it they agreed.

WRONG.

Some have already broken the truce by sending us early presents to put under the tree. This means they have put us, (me), under an obligation to purchase something of equal or greater value; that is if we knew what's in the wrapped parcels. How inconvenient. Also, because I had already donated money to charity, I now have to spend even more money in buying presents to those who disregarded
our agreement.

I prepared a list of items to purchase from town during lunch break from work. I ran from shop to shop buying the items on the list and soon discovered that I was running out of cash.

I went to the bank for more cash because I needed some money to put in the Church collection that evening.

They have a system in our church whereby they give you 52 envelopes with your number on it. Every week you put some money in the envelope, seal it, and drop it in the collection tray. No one knows what you have given except the church treasurer. He opens the envelopes and records what you have given using the number printed on the outside to identify you. At year end, he tells the Government how much you have donated and the Government, (Inland Revenue Service), gives the church a donation based on a percentage of your donation. So the church gets more from what you've donated.

I suggested to the priest we use credit card transactions during collection time; and he frowned at me without responding. So I needed some cash.

At the bank all the machines giving out cash were out of order. I had to queue to get cash from the counter.

At the counter, whilst the young lady was cashing my cheque the phone on her desk rang. It was a personal call. She just learnt that her favourite aunt had died. She was totally distraught and sat there staring into space doing nothing. I was in a hurry to get my cash and get on with my purchases. I did not want to be late back at work.

As tactically as I could, and as gentle too, (as you know I am, dear readers), I suggested to her that her aunt would still be dead in ten minutes. Could she cash my cheque and grieve later?

She burst into tears and ran away. Honestly ... some people can be over-sensitive, don't you think? I had to wait until another cashier came to complete the transaction.

When I got to work I discovered that my secretary was upset and crying her heart out because her cat had died that morning.

In order to prove my kind heartedness, and in the spirit of Christmas, I went out again and bought her an identical cat.

When she saw it she was even more upset because she now has two dead cats!

I never win!!!

16 comments:

  1. Haha. That reminds me I also have to get some cash gifts from the bank.

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  2. Aw, you're such a sensitive soul! :)))
    Actually, your recommendation for gift-giving makes perfect sense to me. If they didn't read the memo, too-bad, so sad. Enjoy your bounty!

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    Replies
    1. I feel we often give Christmas gifts that are really not wanted, and probably re-cycled to other people.

      God bless you, Mevely.

      Delete
  3. We stopped giving gifts about a decade ago. We did the same as you, told people stop buying gifts and just donate the money to a good cause. Still, the first few years we continued getting gifts. We just told them we donated money to an animal in need shelter in their name. We do that every year. The card we send is bought at the shelter with their name on it. A couple of years ago we adopted a donkey for a year in everyone's name. Never heard any complaints, so it finally worked and the animals benefit. We have a donkey sanctuary nearby and they are always looking for donations to run their place so they benefit, we feel good and the present exchange has vanished.
    A good day to you Victor!

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    Replies
    1. Good idea, Bill. Often expensive presents are bought and exchanged because the shops and the adverts encourage us to. Giving to a good cause is a better option.

      God bless you my friend.

      Delete
  4. We really tone down Christmas gifts here, too, Victor. In fact, Danny and I don't give each other anything, but celebrate with a cabin, if we can, and as we just did recently. Making memories is so much better than giving gifts.
    Hope your wallet holds out this Christmas, and that your good humor persists!
    Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. So glad you agree with me, Martha. More charities would benefit if we did not spend so much on gifts.

      My sense of humour took a beating when my secretary had two dead cats.

      God bless you and your family.

      Delete
  5. We don't buy gifts any more but I do bake things to give away.

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    1. Great idea, Happyone. At least the cakes show you made a special effort.

      God bless you and yours.

      Delete
  6. Awww, Victor. Dead cats make me cry too!!!

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    1. Two of them, Terri. It took me ages to find an identical cat to the dead one.

      God bless.

      Delete
  7. Children - yes. Charities - yes. Adults - no.
    Why did we stop focusing on the real gift?

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    Replies
    1. Good question, Chris. It is because we have become more materialistic and less spiritual.

      God bless you.

      Delete
  8. We still buy and give gifts to our family members. Adults--we draw names and have a $40 limit. We keep it simple, even for our gr-babies and their parents.
    We keep it simple.

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    Replies
    1. Yes Susan. Keeping it simple and within limits.

      God bless you and your family always.

      Delete

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