christmas shopping.....

ok, so aside from the few items i bought back in october when my office had its annual outing...at maker's mark.....i have purchased no christmas gifts......and i anticipate difficulty in buying said gifts......mostly because neither my mother nor my children nor my spouse need anything....i have no needs, either......my 12-year old hasn't a clue that she already has more than 2 children could want.....as she thumbed through catalogs circling what she hopes that santa will bring.......she spent sunday morning circling desirables in the glossy ad flyers......including items that she already owns......which really worries me...that the consumerism we so value in this country has become so powerful that we can own so much as to forget just what we already have.......those who know me well are aware that i have purchased duplicates of at least 2 books........the book of ruth by jane hamilton....and a booker prize winner whose name escapes me other than it has the word lac in it......so embarrassing to have bought the same thing twice.......because it means that i undervalued the first purchase......as if it was just something to buy rather than a book to treasure......and therefore......i may go with gift cards for services and consumables rather than things....maybe donate a beehive to some faraway farmer in my mother's honor rather than burden her with more stuff that she can't keep up with.......and so on thanksgiving friday i refrained from shopping....and on thanksgiving monday i ordered nothing online........and maybe i can manage to make this holiday more about being with my beloveds than about presenting them with things they neither want nor need......