If there was one major lesson I took away from Christmas this year, it’s the greatest gift you can give yourself is a flu shot.
I know this, because I didn’t get one, and therefore I spent most of the festive season sounding like Ebeneezer ‘Wheezer’ Scrooge. The fever, the coughing, the sore throat… I got them all, and more. As much as people were calling me ‘Sir’ on the phone and at fast food drive-thrus before, I had no hope of being recognised as female once the gruffness set in. Bah, humbug.
All of that being said, I did manage to rally for Christmas Day, despite no visits from the three spirits. We had the family around to the house and it was a lovely get-together, probably made more merry by the fact that Auntie Vicki couldn’t talk as much as usual.
Another lesson that I’ve learned over the years, and I’m determined to put more into practice from now on, is gifting experiences to loved ones, rather than physical presents. Don’t get me wrong, if my brother Dominic really wants an orbital sander, I’m not going to just ignore his plea to Santa. And, of course, maybe there is a special piece of jewellery or some newfangled technology that would make someone’s year if they received it – under those circumstances, it just makes sense to give them what they truly desire. I simply find that sometimes we’re racing about, buying things for the sake of the season, without always putting the thought into it that we might. A lot of the time, that comes down to how prepared we are. If you are one of those wonderful (strange) people who starts their shopping early, then this probably doesn’t apply to you. If, however, like me, you’re all good intentions but end up running around like a headless elf on Christmas Eve, throwing money at the problem, perhaps it’s time to rethink your strategy.
If you had to sit down and think of all the presents you were given five years ago, how many would you remember? On the other hand, I bet you haven’t forgotten that trip you took to New York where you saw Bette Midler on Broadway. Or the time you drove around Europe 15 years ago, and got lost on a tributary road, only to find a vineyard nearby. Even when things go wrong on vacation, they can end up being funny memories. Lord knows, best friend Lynne and I are always bent over double when we recall the times we were dragging far too much luggage though train stations or across roads while trying to find our hotel. One of my favourite moments was when I decided to treat us to a helicopter ride from Manhattan to the mainland in order to get to our next flight in style. A friend who had lived in the city said it was the only way to beat the traffic if one was flying out of Newark.
Our taxi driver, unwilling to drive a little farther to drop us right at the helipad location – something about it being a big inconvenience – dropped us off in the middle of the road under an overpass, with all our bags about us. It was hardly the civilised, classy experience I had envisioned – more ‘Law & Order’ than lavish – as we were assaulted by dust devils, trying to get to the curb without being run over. At the time, it was more gobsmacking than humorous, but boy, has it been worth its weight in laughs ever since. We didn’t even argue the decision with the driver, we just, “Oh, okay”d him and moved like sheep. You can’t put a price on a memory like that.
The usual manner in which we present experiences to others is through good ol’ gift certificates. Getting them for friends and family can seem like a cop out, but they really can be the gifts that keep on giving if properly organised. If you’ve bought them a getaway, actually have some dates booked. Spa experience? Make a tentative reservation for them. I’ll be the first to admit that I forget about gift certificates I’ve been given. Life gets in the way, and I am just rubbish with scheduling. By the time I rediscover them, I find they were only valid when Clinton was in office. So, it’s important that when you choose to buy someone an experience, make sure they take it.
‘Travel more’ always seems to make its way onto New Year’s resolution top 10 lists, and the older I get, the more I’m realising how important that is. Following friends on Facebook as they travel the world is a definite way to get the wanderlust bug. My friend Peter Sugden, whose zest for life and love of exploring is an inspiration, just spent some time in Nepal, mingling with the locals, eating food in their homes, and learning a bit of cultural dancing on the side. As his mate Coop Copeland said, “Enjoy the journey, my friend. Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
Well, that and gold bullion… but I’ll probably choose the travel.
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