Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for December 23, 2024

Before taking in all of the monologue and signs I thought that they were lining up at a bar to get away from the stress.

The crass is always more seen on the other side of the window

7-11 stocked-up early here.

Sincerity always cost extra.

I have always entered this season with a great deal of fear and trepidation; this one’s no different.

My shopping (@ 75 years old) is to stop in at my bank and ask for some near-uncirculated bills. I then put some in a small envelope with a piece of paper wrapped around the bills making it hard to see the denominations. Finally, I tape each envelope to a large Hershey’s chocolate bar after putting each son, daughter-in-law, or grand child’s name on each. And my shopping and wrapping is done. Each one of them simply loves the color of my gift to them!

Last minute presents are usually store gift cards. They’re just like cash only more restrictive as to where one can spend it.

Some years ago I happened to be in a small town south of Nashville a few days before Christmas. We had stopped for a bite to eat at a Big Boy Diner. There was one of those Claw Machines in the place and a middle aged couple were at that machine seeming to go through rolls of quarters as they quite skillfully filled a bag with stuffed toys. I had seen people holiday shopping at Cracker Barrel before but that was a new one.

he’s been getting very bitter lately. for my desk calendar I went with peanuts for 2025 instead of this.

Otherly, Dickens, in his 1851 short story, “What Christmas Is As We Grow Older,” makes the case that the holiday is the time to “bear witness” to our parallel lives, our “old aspirations,” “old projects” and “old loves”:

“Welcome, alike what has been, and what never was, and what we hope may be, to your shelter underneath the holly."

Christmas in America = Stuff, lots and lots of Stuff

One year, Mad Magazine did an Acme issue: When Cheap is All That Matters.

Cards only. No cash back. The death knell of convenience for many folks who can’t get credit cards and whose debit cards are tapped out.

I gave my honey a fistfull of cash and told her to get some stuff for the kids. She replied “I got all their stuff.” and tucked the $$ in her pocket. Well, that was easy.

Temu goes brick and mortar.

Sad, but appropriate.

There is always the Starbucks gift card

You could at least get them better chocolate than Hershey

“It doesn’t matter how sincere it is -Nor how heart felt the spirit -Sentiment will not endear it —What’s important is the price” — Tom Lehrer, A Christmas Carol

Now that I’m over 60 and have no kids of my own, I appreciate more than ever the lesson of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and especially A Charlie Brown Christmas.

My kids and grandkids always want money for gifts. It makes it much easier. However, and this is exciting, we’re getting our first great grandchild in 2025. He’s the size of a banana right now. We’re so excited.

When the grands started arriving, I decided to make memories with them for birthdays and Christmas. It could be simple like a visit to a new playground and new restaurant. We’ve been to musicals, plays, Orioles games, Harlem Globetrotters and a climbing wall gym (I watched!). Now the 4 older girls like to shop and do lunch. Memories of family special times.

I do not buy gifts for the Winter holidays. Everyone understands and they don’t buy me gifts either. Works out well.

Fake sincerity is putting lumps of coal in people’s stockings. True sincerity is throwing them at people!

Merry Christmas, whatever./s

But God’s gift to us was/is sincere. Merry Christmas everyone and take a moment to thank God.

Ah yes, the entire American Christmas Experience captured in a single panel. Well done Wiley Miller, well done.

Maybe 2 days, till we change the subject. I’m ready to close the book on 2024. A painfully predictable year. 2025 at least has promise as it remains the undiscovered country for now. Have a blessed week folks. Peace Out ! ;-)

I’ve felt this way about a lot of Christmas gift giving for a long time. Trying to figure out gifts for people I barely know, let alone their preferences. And I’d see the “gifty” kiosks in the center aisle of the mall and get a preview of what I’d likely be getting.

an’ then there’s always the mini-mart!

I’ve reached the age at which, when my wife asks me what I’d like for Xmas, my response is “fewer things”.