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Christmas hates single 20-somethings
Thursday, December 07, 2006
I mean, do i really have to wait until i have kids before christmas means anything again?
It seems that as soon as you turn 20, suddenly (or maybe gradually), parents feel less obligation to do anything for Christmas. The tree goes up later and later in the month of December until finally it just doesn’t go up at all. Decorations are few and far between, unless you count the plethora of Christmas cards received from friends and family as “decorations.” Though my family has been pretty good about not falling prey to this trend, i’ve heard of many a family that has resorted to exchanging gift cards on Christmas day instead of buying actual gifts.
I think part of it stems from the fact that, as you become “adult-ish,” you earn money enough to buy the things you want yourself. The only things you don’t buy are things so superfluous that you never thought about it at all OR things so expensive that your income just can’t handle it.
So this year I’m broke. I’ll have to make do with what i’ve got to either make gifts or do actions instead of giving objects. For example, I’m doing a photoshoot for Kimi (getting some mileage out of the new camera). Despite my financial situation, I still want at least a *little* Christmas spirit in my apartment. Luckily for Susan and me, our apartment is primarily red anyway, so decorating didn’t take all that much effort. The couch, the microwave, the futon on the kotatsu (table with a heater underneath) and even my roomba (bday gift from my parents) are all RED!
So one night, Suz and I took a trip to the grocery store and stumbled upon a garland for $11! It was perfect! Big enough that you recognize its existence but not as expensive as a tree. We even got some garland for it. Yes it was a splurge, but it makes the living room feel so much more homey and warm.
I say if you want Christmas spirit and you’re a single 20-something, you gotta make it happen for yourself. What are all of you doing to make Christmas real for YOU this year? And does anyone have ideas for low-labor-intensity gifts that you can make?