Well, I finally got around to doing my Christmas shopping last night. Since the malls are open until eleven, I waited until about eight before I took the Miata up to the big mall in Nashua. I figured that this would be late enough to avoid most of the crowd. I think I still got there a bit too early for that.
So there I am, buzzing through the stores along with all of the other glassy-eyed male drones, desperately looking for something, anything, to bring back to the hive, er, house. As the night progressed, I began to understand the phrase "money is no object." Prices that would have elicited cries of agony at any other time of the year were barely able to wrest a grunt from my slack-jawed countenance. As I handed my credit card to the equally stupefied clerks, I rejoiced (in a remarkably understated manner) that yet one more present had been dutifully checked off my list.
In any case, it's over now, and of course, it wasn't really all that bad. In fact, I'm thinking of going to the mall again on Christmas Eve. Not to shop, of course, but to revel in the panic and wide-eyed hysteria of the last minute shoppers. To paraphrase: "There, but for the grace of four days and an overheated credit card, go I".
And next year, I'm going to shop early and often. Yes I am. Definitely.
You can respond to my ranting here.
God rant ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.