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VIDEOOh, Mother!: Giving In to the Season
By
Laurie Petersen Dec 19, 2008 8:45 am
It's been quite the year
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Despite my stated intention to have a less material holiday this year, temptation abounds!
Stores are dropping prices to unheard-of-levels, and my place is the destination for this Christmas Eve’s family shindig. So it seems sort of stupid not to take advantage and replace at least 1 of the 2 threadbare rugs in my living room.
There’s a difference between economy and obsessive frugality. We’ll see.
My daughter, the budding interior decorator, would like a spruced up room more than any other gift this year. She’s got one thing on her wish list - a loft bed. Since we’re hosting an exchange student in March, it will be a handy way to double the space in her bedroom.
Even though I’ll be working through part of it (and am grateful to be doing so), the holiday seems like a 2-week celebration this year. Economic pall notwithstanding, New York City still has that magical lit-up feeling.
My daughter is off school for a full 2 weeks because of the convergence of Hanukkah and Christmas. I’m lucky to work in a place where I can bring her with me for a few days and then cover the rest of what I need to handle from home.
Still, we’re slating a chunk of time to doing what we always do at this time of year - giving back. Overwhelming demand from those less fortunate in our community means the local food and clothing pantry is in overdrive collecting toys and enlisting volunteers to wrap and deliver them in time for Christmas.
We’ll be there and I know it will feel good. As the Wall Street Journal’s Karen Blumenthal observed this week, it's possible to teach values by what you give. And what you do.
Our big travel plan is to visit friends in neighboring Pennsylvania and head to the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day. I’ve never seen it, and ironically, this could be the last year. The city of Philadelphia, like municipalities everywhere, is buckling under financial pressure.
A Facebook friend who heard I'm going to what will probably be a beer-soaked scene warned: “Prepare to be pissed upon.”
Seems like a fitting epitaph for these times.
What's your mood as the year comes to an end? Weigh in on The Exchange.
Oh, Mother! will be back in the New Year. MinyanLand.com, our virtual world teaching kids about earning, spending, saving and giving, is open and is a great way to spend some time.
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