The Middle of November? Already?

Yesterday, I was unpleasantly shocked into reality when I opened my "To Do" list for next week. "Start working on Christmas Cards?" It couldn't be......could it?

I glanced at the calendar. Yep, it was already the 14th of November. Not only time to start working on Christmas Cards, but also time to send off a check to pay our real estate taxes, time to call the roof man who removes the moss from our roof every November, and time to head for the mall to start purchasing gifts for those on my already pared down Christmas list for this year.

I have decided to buy only useful gifts this year. No more stuffed gorillas singing "Jingle Bell Rock," or "Hello Kitty" pillows that survive the rough-housing of two pre-schoolers for less than a week. From now on, useful gifts--that's my motto.

Then I began to wonder, why go to the mall at all? Why not see how much of my list I can mark off without ever leaving the house.

1. Two people, my stepson and my sister-in-law, have both commented on my really retro bike speedometer. I love it, and can order one for each of them online. Best of all, even with shipping, I should be able to keep close to my $15 per person limit if I choose that gift. The stepson thinks they are cool, and my sister-in-law will not only be able to clock her own speed and mileage, but she will quit coveting my own personal speedometer. (Yes, I have pointed out that covetousness is a sin, but she has, so far, ignored me on that topic.) This gift definitely qualifies as useful.

2. The baby of the family--actually my granddaughter--has practically turned handsprings to get me to notice the Fisher-Price Smart Cycle whenever an ad for it appears on TV.So far, I have convinced her that Grandma and Grandpa don't have that much money, but maybe, just maybe, we could get the other set of grandparents to go halves with us.

Since we are constantly being told how American children are doomed to obesity by age 8, because they don't get enough excercise, this little bike/toy certainly fits the goal of usefulness. Because the game that comes with it is powered by the child pedaling the bike, it is guaranteed to send excess calories running for their lives. How useful is that?

3. Of everyone on my list, my husband is probably the one that will be most appreciative of something "useful." His idea of a birthday gift for me is new gloves, pj's, coat, frying pan, or anything else he knows I am already planning to buy for myself. Turn about is fair play, I always say, and we both like gifts that last more than a day or two past Christmas, so I think several gift certificates for oil changes, car washes, or even a tune-up for his car would please him. I could pick that up on my next trip to town.

4. For others on my list who might be offended by something they consider useful, my own personal favorite is an Amaryllis Bulb or two. (They won't even realize it is useful.) A bright colored Amaryllis is, to my way of thinking, the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.

The recipient simply adds a bit of water after they open the gift and then sit back to watch in amazement as this plant literally grows an inch or more a day. Several weeks after Christmas, its gorgeous blossoms spread wide, and the owner will be truly awed.

The usefulness of this secret weapon is that it almost always eliminates or at least reduces post-Christmas, mid-winter blues in the household where it resides. (You might want to grab one or more for yourself this Christmas.)



If you've been bitten by the "Useful Gifts" bug like I have, why not save yourself some time, some money, and some gasoline, and some frustration, and order your gifts online. When your friends complain about the hassle of Christmas shopping, you can be mean and tell them you are all done, or you can let it remain your own little secret.