By Lorna
The other day, my mother asked me, "What do you want for Christmas."
Of course, my immediate answer was, "EVERYTHING!" But when forced to narrow it down, I came up rather short. Uh...let's see....
At my age, I can pretty much buy what I want. And as it turns out ... I don't seem to want all that much. In fact, I can better tell you what I DON'T want than what I do want. Yeah, that list could take up several pages, and maybe an entire BOOK.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but among my favorite don't wants are:
Bath Salts: Unless you have one of those deep, soaker tubs, warmed fluffy towels, and nothing on your to-do list, who has time to take a tub bath? And as I get older, I find I'm using less and less products that have a fragrance to it. So please--don't give me bath salts.
Clothes: As a kid, there was nothing worse than the dreaded flat, rectangular box. It meant a sweater, or new pajamas, or yet another hat, scarf, and mitten set. I don't care how old a kid you become, Christmas is for TOYS! My toys of choice have changed to books, CDs, and DVDs, but they're still FUN!
Candy and Sweets: My butt is already too big. I have a hard enough time avoiding this stuff the other 11 months of the year. I'd rather have some new highlighters, glue sticks and white-out. (Yes, I still use it.)
Candles: My mother put the fear of fire in me at an early age. I got one of those candle warmers a few years ago, but seldom use it--especially as I read something online that said the scent of these lovely smelling candles might be toxic. (Same with all those air fresheners--and I've heard the ones you plug in have caused fires.) Why might be toxic? Nobody has ever done a study.
That's just off the top of my head?
What is it that you DON'T WANT for Christmas?
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18 comments:
The same things you mentioned plus
ornaments - I don't put up a tree so it's useless
I'll attach my name to your list. Except the candles, I seem to collect them - never burn them, just collect.
Okay, add them back to the list.
Dru, I do put up a tree, but I have more ornaments than branches, so I have to pick and choose. I'm finding I put up the ones I've been given by my family first, and then if there's any room, the others. But, yeah, I really don't need more.
No scented anythings...gives me migraines.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Love your list! I also don't want anything ornamental that might find it's way into one of my cupboards.
They've still got last year's and the year before's gifties.
Books and booze still rock though!
LOL. I'm with Mary Jane. Great list. Oh, and one addition, please don't buy me just any old book because you know that I read. It's rather like food...we all have our likes and dislikes.
What a great idea!
I don't want any kind of bath stuff. I'll buy my own shower gel thank you & I don't do baths.
Ornaments - have too many as it is.
Knick-knack stuff unless you find a really cool dragon that is reading. I'm still looking for one that got away.
I'll agree on clothes, candy and sweets but not candles. Wait, I have enough and to me they're like books, not just any shape/scent will do.
Maybe I should just say ditto?
Clothes
... because I've noticed people get me things that are like nothing I've ever been seen in. Big geometric patterns, bright neons ack.
A cheapo romance book. Any other genre, np.
Off brand cheese and meat trays with unidentifiable jellies tucked into the edges.
A frightening nightgown.
Monster truck DVDs
Wow--that is a pretty frightening list! (Especially that nightgown.) Here's hoping Santa brings you everything you do want!
Great list, but I'm impressed with how short it is! LOL I would like to NOT receive those gift boxes of tea - you know the ones that are in a faux-wood box that you open up, and there are 30 dif varieties of fruit-flavored (and usually the useless caffeine-free) teas nicely displayed in individual cubby holes? Yeah, we seem to get one of those every year.
LOL, Laura! Yeah, they do tend to taste like boiled leaves. I drink decaf English tea. That stuff leaves you with moss growing on your teeth, but you at least know you've drunk a damn fine brew. (I prefer Typhoo--but my Aunt just gifted me with a box of PG Tips. Yes! I'm looking forward to it.)
I think all gifts are wonderful but my favorites have always been the weird little items people seem to pick up along the way..a funky vintage handbag or ethnic piece of fabric. Recently someone gave me a lovely little box with cutout flowers on it. So I guess I'd say please don't get me anything from a chain store unless it's a book.
(Do you really still use whiteout? I thought only catchers used whiteout these days.)
a cookbook for venison (got that last year from my parents. argh)
bath stuff
clothes, I'd prefer a gift card so I can shop myself.
random knick knacks like the stuffed sheep my mom gave me last year (sensing a theme that my mom gives me useless gifts?)
Bath stuff ... ditto.
Okay, can I be totally politically incorrect here?
Anything made in China.
There I said it. We tend to get a lot of useless knick-knacky things that were "so cute we couldn't pass them up." Please -- pass them up. Most of them are made in China, so even if they're a souvenir from a great place -- they aren't authentic souvenirs.
I have way too much stuff as it is.
As for gifts I *would* like? A new experience, shared with friends and family. Plays, visits, restaurants...
Julie
I'm with you, Julie. I went to The Christmas Tree Store and not one item in the place was made outside of China. Needless to say, I walked out without buying a thing. (And BTW, I went in the store in March, hoping to find some fairy (white Christmas) lights. There wasn't one Christmas item in the entire store. What gives?)
Please save a plant and do NOT give me a poinsettia. It will die and you do not want to be responsible for murder, right?
..you mean you don't want its sap on your hands?
Lorna---you'll love PG Tips. I discovered it when my daughter Maria was assigned to Oundle, England, for two years. My father was English & Irish so I grew up on strong black tea. Yesss!
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