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Laura Disilverio | What is Your Holiday Personality?
November 17, 2010
Today I saw my first reference to “XX Shopping Days ’Til Christmas” and heard
the first carols of the season. Okay, they probably weren’t the first; some
retail establishment has probably been playing “Deck the Halls” since Labor Day,
but they were the first I heard. I had my usual conflicting reactions.
“They’re playing Christmas carols already?” and “There are only how many days
left?” Aaack.
I will confess to being one of those uber-organized people (my nearest and
dearest toss around terms like “anal” and “psychotic”) who starts shopping for
Christmas presents in February or March. I pick up gifts all year (preferably
on sale), thinking “Danielle will like this necklace” and “James will get a kick
out of this light saber.” I tell myself I’m spreading out the money burden by
not putting everything on the December credit card, and I’m reducing the stress
of the holiday season by having 98% of my gifts bought, wrapped and mailed
before Thanksgiving. In reality, I just want an excuse to shop ALL YEAR LONG.
We all have holiday personalities. My hubby’s a “last minuter” who never buys a
gift before 23 December. Some people are “Martha Stewarts” who transform their
homes with holiday villages, lights, and table settings that could grace a
Macy’s display window. Others are “partiers” who have a function on the
calendar every day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s—and enjoy them all.
Still others are “family magnets”; you know the type—they draw relatives to them
and host the holiday meals. There are benevolent family magnets, the kind who
says “everybody welcome” and don’t fuss over Great Aunt Myrna’s spilled
cranberry juice or Cousin Fred’s lateness, and malevolent ones who insist, “Be
here or I’m leaving my classic baseball card collection to the cat.”
In my humorous mystery, SWIFT JUSTICE, my private
investigators Charlie Swift and Gigi Goldman would be polar opposite holiday
personalities. Charlie’s a “Christmas is just another day” sort of person,
willing to stake out an insurance fraudster instead of eating turkey and candied
yams with friends. She’d contribute anonymously to a local charity that buys
gifts for disadvantaged kids. Gigi would have an inflatable Santa, light-up
menorah and life-sized manger scene in the front yard from Thanksgiving on.
She’d spend more than she could afford on gifts for her ungrateful teens, keep
eggnog in the office for clients, and end every phone conversation with “Merry
Christmas!”
What kind of holiday personality are you (or would you like to be)? Which
personalities do you find most endearing or most irritating? Leave a comment
for the chance to win a signed copy of SWIFT JUSTICE. An
inscribed book makes a great Christmas present.
Comments
33 comments posted.
Re: Laura Disilverio | What is Your Holiday Personality?
During the Holidays my wings glisten brightly and my horns are sharp to a point. I love the magic that is in the air as the Holiday approaches, people are kinder, smiles are genuine, donations are made with a merry heart, kitchens are warm and stomaches are full. Yet despite my glistening wings, I can't help myself from gifting my brother with a book on the history of farts and my Dad with an unsolveable puzzle.
For although I'm heavenly I'm also devilishly! ;-*
(Darby Lohrding 1:59am November 17, 2010)
I love holidays and the gatherings of loved ones.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 7:07am November 17, 2010)
I love Christmas and enjoy baking for the family (near and far) even though I've been a Type I diabetic since I was in my teens. My husband says he's a bah-humbug type of guy but is the one who loves to decorate and pick up hookey singing Santas, etc.
We're both pretty low key, with the exception of the grandchildren, on gift buying but I do enjoy making something homemade (cookies, mittens, scarves, etc.) to keep Christmas in prospective.
We started our low-key approach to Xmas when our children were young and times were hard like they are now. When they wrote out their "gift lists" they had to write down "gifts for others" before asking for their own. Fortunately they were thrilled getting a new "used" bike because they understood others had even less than them. A good lesson for times like now as well.
A love the holidays when the spirit of the season is the most important thing you celebrate.
(Jeanne Miro 9:32am November 17, 2010)
LOL! I start buying Christmas presents in July. I like for my yard to be seen from space. I start listening to Christmas music in Nov. (got a CD in my car in case I want to listen in June ). I make gingerbread cookies and I send out hand made ornaments instead of cards. So I am one of "those" people .
(Sharon Stogner 9:40am November 17, 2010)
I am every year what it warrants. This year I will be a last minuter, which I don't like. This year has flown by and I am still reeling. But no matter what, when it comes to the Christmas tree, I take a long time. Pulling out old ornaments and the kids makings', taking time to share the memories with my family while putting them on the tree. It is a group effort. To me the holidays are about doing things together and sharing yout bounties.
(Patricia Reed 9:43am November 17, 2010)
We've downsized a bit on the whole thing. Mostly due to the economy but also we're older & just plain don't need more stuff. So we give the bulk of our 'gift money' to the local food banks.
(Cate Sparks 10:16am November 17, 2010)
I would say I am a procrastinator but not last minute shopper. I would shop year round if I had any idea what anyone wanted but that just doesn't happen so I wait and then it seems like everything has to get done at once.
(Maureen Emmons 12:03pm November 17, 2010)
I would love to really enjoy all the hoop-la building up to Christmas, but somehow I just am too rushed to enjoy. I will be retired by next Christmas and I have vowed that I will enjoy every minute leading up the 25th - cooking, cleaning, gift buying, gift wrapping, etc.
(Sandra Furlotte 12:18pm November 17, 2010)
I love holiday stories plus it sounds you can get a laugh to.thanks for giving me a chance to win it. Happy holiday to you.
(Linda Hall 12:25pm November 17, 2010)
My husband and I don't have any children, so our Holidays are usually pretty low key. We either go to a relative or friend's house, or have them over to our house. I have always loved to bake cookies at Christmas time and give them to loved ones. Thanks so much for this chance to win! Happy Holidays to you!
(Cathy Phillips 12:59pm November 17, 2010)
I love Christmas. It's a time for our large family to get together and enjoy each other's company and some good food.
I am a list maker. I make a list about six weeks before Christmas.
A cleaning list.
A cooking list.
A Christmas card list.
A present list.
A shopping list.
With my lists my christmas goes rather smoothly, I need to orgainise for about 15-18 people.
Valerie
in Germany
(Valerie Bongards 1:03pm November 17, 2010)
I love the holidays! Already started to listen to X-mas music... my father enjoys saying Bah Humbug...
(Colleen Conklin 2:00pm November 17, 2010)
I am a mutt of personalities. I shop only online because I hate malls. I love the cooking/food part but hate the process of clean up and juggling one oven. I decorate just enough and everyone is invited. I envy those Martha Stewarts out there though. That picture perfect image always just kills me....
(Michele Powell 2:23pm November 17, 2010)
Hi Laura what a fun blog.
I love decorating for the holidays. Now I do it more for me because I have decided that the kids that are grown really don't care much or at least that is the vibe they are sending me.
I used to shop all year long but I have learned over the years to ask what dear mother-in -law wants or needs. I hate returning items because someone changed their mind. Been there done that one too many times.
I found out cash is better than gift cards for the teenage set unless it is for itunes. I have really cut out a lot of the Christmas extras and overload and try to give what I can to food banks at this time of year.
Lately the holidays stress me out being pulled between parents and in-laws that I get usually end up sick.
From what I read of the book it looks to be a good one. I will have to put it on my list to order when I get my amazon order together.
(Gigi Hicks 2:26pm November 17, 2010)
The cover makes this book look quite intriging. I can't wait!
(Nancy Swern 3:02pm November 17, 2010)
Our daughter, son in law and two teen granddaughters come from Ohio to Tn. and I go all out from the day after Thansgiving until I have put a tree on the screened porch (Fishing and boating theme) a Univ of Tn. tree in the family room etc...well you get the idea. Anything for the kids!!!
(Pat Willoughby 3:22pm November 17, 2010)
I used to be the "everything needs to be perfect" but have learned that the holiday is a lot more fun when you're not so fussy.
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in the contest.
(Karen Appleby 3:31pm November 17, 2010)
I love all the Holiday Parties with friends and family. I go....go to all. Than rest in January.
(Barbara Ryan 4:38pm November 17, 2010)
When my children were young, I would begin baking oodles of Christmas goodies in September, loading up the freezer...we were usually still eating Christmas cookies for Easter. Now that my kids are grown and not living in the area, I am lucky to get two batches of cookies baked before the holidays. I guess having the kids in the house inspired me to make more of the holidays.
(Robin McKay 4:52pm November 17, 2010)
I still approach Christmas with child-like wonder. My favorite holiday.
(Mary Preston 5:11pm November 17, 2010)
Outwardly I display my Holidays are just another day personna because we have no family so it's always just my husband, me, and the animals----but I really long for a big Christmas with all the trimmings and lots of people around.
(Sue Farrell 5:42pm November 17, 2010)
wow i am sitting and doing cards
as we speak so far 130 and more to count and cookies i get the stuff for them and let the other ladie cook them if i had them here we eat them all but good luck with the book and many many more
(Desiree Reilly 6:22pm November 17, 2010)
Well, let's see - I love the funky Christmas songs and my husband whats the traditional ones. I have Christmas stuff out all year (not all, mainly Santa's). I just love the Christmas season.
(Linda Pillow 8:12pm November 17, 2010)
I'm the type of person that loves to decorate for Christmas. I make as many decorations as I can, and love to bake as many different things as the budget allows. As for get-togethers, I don't live near my family, otherwise I would have everyone at my place, since I don't mind doing the cooking. I love to cook my Mother's old recipes since they bring back such good memories. My Sisters and Dad would always smile when I came in with her dishes. The family is also too big to exchange presents as well, otherwise I would probably knit something for them. It has to be one of my favorite holidays. Now it's just bitersweet being far away from them. I make the best of it with my Husband, decorating our place, and having a nice meal with baked goodies.
(Peggy Roberson 9:07pm November 17, 2010)
I use to decorate alot for Christmas but now with kids grown and grandaughter living out of state I don't do that much. My living room is so small there is no room even for a small tree but I put a table top tree in the 2 front rooms to pass as a big tree.lol I would start buying or layawaying in Aug but don't have much to buy now. I miss the old Christmas but all the kids in family are grown and live out of town and parents go to their home now. Just my 2 and me for holidays and Christmas now.
(Brenda Hill 9:08pm November 17, 2010)
I've learned to do all my shopping online. Malls are scary this time of the year!
(Judy H 11:33pm November 17, 2010)
I love the Holidays being with familey, the great food and the making of memories.
I also enjoy going to the mall just to sit and watch people.
(Vickie Hightower 12:13pm November 18, 2010)
We do a lot of decoration starting on Thanksgiving afternoon; but I just can't get into the shopping mood until December. I always fear that the person will purchase an item before I get to give him or her the same.
(Gladys Paradowski 2:01am November 18, 2010)
I like getting organized I have everything ready and done by the end of Sept but then tend to want to shop MORE and go a bit crazy in the spending dept.
(Darci Paice 2:33am November 18, 2010)
I tend to buy little things throughout the year but this year I am a little behind. Luckily I am sending my parents out with a list for Black Friday to take care of the rest. Since Christmas is at their house, it's really easier for them to buy everything and then I just pay them back! That's my story and I am sticking to it this year.
(Pam Howell 7:30am November 18, 2010)
I shop all year for Christmas presents, you never know when you will come across the perfect present. I book cover is rather interesting.
(Theresa Richardson 6:46pm November 18, 2010)
The holidays are a long time in coming as anticipation builds closer to the dates. I tend to shop at the last minute and wrap gifts while at the person's house who's receiving them I come armed with paper and sometimes tape, but forget the scissors and end up folding back a lot of paper. Sometimes I buy gifts and forget where I put them and have to go to the next plan which is dashing out and getting something easy.
(Alyson Widen 6:34pm November 19, 2010)
I use to be the "Perfect Gift Giver" and well as the buying year round when on sale to save us money since we are a one income household. I even had a cabanet/closet set aside just for gifts and wrapping back then. As the nieces and nephews get older, the get harder (and more expensive) to buy for. Last year, between no one making lists (money and outragious items being the only things asked for) and the weather, everyone got gift cards! NOT what Super Aunt Vicky is known for. It was so easy and stress free, I may have to switch to this from now on... They didn't seem to mind very much anyway (they all just wished it way cash instead...I even remember the days I did too! That is so tempting, except it takes so much more to buy the things today, not sure if it would work, but still thinking it). I see a new trend in my gift buying.
(Victoria Colyer-Kerr 9:20pm November 25, 2010)
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