Every year I get 3 insignificant gifts. I go to a town about 100 miles away where my brother and his wife and my niece, her husband and 4 kids live. My other brother also comes out there. My brother and sister-n-law know I am a big Gunsmoke fan, so for years they have given me something related to that-- autographed photos by James Arness, Ken Curtis, Bert Reynolds, et al, an original script, a U.S. Marshal's badge, and so on. This year they gave me a kid's game with Dodge City and plastic items to set up on the board. I certainly don't expect my niece and her family to waste anything on me, and from them I got a Hickory Farms box of 2 small summer sausages with a little cheese and crackers. My other brother gave me a stovetop teflon grill, which I might use on occasion.
But my birthday is 6 days before Christmas, and I have 'given myself' something inadvertently several times including a couple of cars when I simply had to have another car. This year I finally did something I had wanted to do for years-- a sleigh ride in the high country (Angel Fire, as it proved to be). I called the number I had on that day and said I was hoping to make a reservation "either today or tomorrow;" figuring tomorrow would more likely be the day. But they had a 'dinner ride' still available on that day, so I accepted it. After hanging up it occurred to me that it was my birthday. I didn't tell anybody else on the ride because I did not want to call attention to myself. And that was one of the best steak dinners I have ever had. Meanwhile, I bought Christmas gifts in that area-- coasters, Indian-made shoes for the little ones, a pocket knife with many function blades for my oldest great nephew, and a few 'stocking stuffer' kind of things; and I also gave some gift cards.
When I was a kid, Christmas was a really big thing-- aunts, uncles, cousins, a turkey, a tree; and a half the living room floor covered with wrapped gifts. My birthday was quite little-- might have gotten one present, but never had a party or anything. Now Christmas is dinky, and I suddenly realize I am giving myself a gift.
PS: when I was talking to Jacque, one of the Percherons that pulled our sleigh, I might have let it slip that it was my birthday, but I didn't think a horse knows what a birthday is.
But my birthday is 6 days before Christmas, and I have 'given myself' something inadvertently several times including a couple of cars when I simply had to have another car. This year I finally did something I had wanted to do for years-- a sleigh ride in the high country (Angel Fire, as it proved to be). I called the number I had on that day and said I was hoping to make a reservation "either today or tomorrow;" figuring tomorrow would more likely be the day. But they had a 'dinner ride' still available on that day, so I accepted it. After hanging up it occurred to me that it was my birthday. I didn't tell anybody else on the ride because I did not want to call attention to myself. And that was one of the best steak dinners I have ever had. Meanwhile, I bought Christmas gifts in that area-- coasters, Indian-made shoes for the little ones, a pocket knife with many function blades for my oldest great nephew, and a few 'stocking stuffer' kind of things; and I also gave some gift cards.
When I was a kid, Christmas was a really big thing-- aunts, uncles, cousins, a turkey, a tree; and a half the living room floor covered with wrapped gifts. My birthday was quite little-- might have gotten one present, but never had a party or anything. Now Christmas is dinky, and I suddenly realize I am giving myself a gift.
PS: when I was talking to Jacque, one of the Percherons that pulled our sleigh, I might have let it slip that it was my birthday, but I didn't think a horse knows what a birthday is.
