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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

But It's Only Halloween.....

Yep, less that sixty more shopping days until Christmas.

Now, don't start with all the whining about how it's only Halloween and why oh why do stores have to put out Christmas stuff now. I'll tell you why they do it: Because of people like me.

Here's the thing. I hate crowds. Let me rephrase that: I.Hate.Crowds. Well, not all crowds, like if there are throngs of kids wanting me to sign a book, well, that's a good crowd. But if it's throngs of people who want to look at the same stuff that I want to look at, at the same time I want to look at it at (yeah....not sure about that whole "at" thing), well folks, then we have a problem.

That's why I do the sensible thing. I do my Christmas shopping early. AEAP. Let all of the other people fight over the last Star Trek Lego Enterprise....I bought mine months ago. So, this post is for those of you out there like me, kind of a PSA to remember what is important this year when buying gifts.

Please, please, please, when you can and when it makes sense, give someone a book as a gift. (It doesn't have to be mine.)

I remember every book someone gave me as a gift. The first one was The Children's Bible, followed by a book called Animal Tales,( although I secretly coveted my sister's gift of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Sure, my book had a story in it called The Pig Detective, which I liked, but hers had Snow White and Rose Red and a story about a guy on a quest whose nose grew so long it went on for three pages. I can still see it in my mind.) Rosemary's Secret was a birthday gift from a neighbor and my best friend gave me the first John Jakes book when I was a freshman in high school.

The list goes on and on....

The Giving Tree
Jumanji
Heckedy Peg
Anna and the Bagpiper
Quite a Year For Plums
Teacher Man
Twelve Days of Christmas
The Thorn Birds
Portraits

Books have been some of the most thoughtful gifts I have received, and what's more, they really are the gift that keeps on giving.

Books are cool.

16 comments:

lisa and laura said...

Oh yes, everyone should buy lots and lots of books for Christmas! Finding the perfect book for someone really speaks volumes. It's such a thoughtful gift.

Susan R. Mills said...

No worries. I have books on my list for almost everyone. I couldn't agree with you more.

Natalie said...

I'm planning to give a lot of books this year too. Everyone likes a good book after all. :)

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

I often get bookstore gift cards for my out-of-state gifts. That way they get to choose and I save postage. But sometimes you really want to pick the book. It's wonderful when you know just the right thing.

Julie Dao said...

YES YES YES. I never understood why all my friends used to complain about getting books for Christmas. It was like #2 on the worst things to get list, right after a lumpy sweater from Grandma. I adored getting books for Christmas: that smooth-edged binding, those gleaming covers, those crisp pristine pages and just the smell of a brand new book! It's heaven. I'm excited for Christmas so I don't mind all of the early decorations. :)

Julie Dao said...

Oops! I forgot to tell you I passed an award on to you at my blog. :) Sorry to spam in your comments!

Corey Schwartz said...

I remember getting The Secret Garden as a gift when I went for cataract surgery at age seven. It was the first time I could see well enough to read the small print. And it changed my life!

Wendy Sparrow said...

Books are perfect... and gift cards to book stores always make it into my stocking.

My word verification is "mushie" which I'll try not to be, though I did want to say that Good Night, Good Knight is one of my favorite children's books. I called my mother on my cell phone within moments of reading it and told her to go get it.

Good book. Excellent book. It made me smile... and now I'll stalk you for life. Sorry. Thems the breaks.

MG Higgins said...

Books ARE cool and I'm planning on giving several for Xmas presents. When I was just old enough to read independently, someone gave me the picture book, "Anne Can Fly," for Christmas and I thought it was a really dumb present. And then I read it and read it again and again. And I still remember it!

Jessie Oliveros said...

Books are the best gifts! And I am definitely planning on doing my Christmas shopping early this year. I'll have a newborn in December so November is shopping month for me. NaChriShoMo.

Richard Jesse Watson said...

For sure, Shelley, books are gifts that can become old friends. Shopping early is just plain practical--and I like your acronym, Jessie: NaChriShoMo. Ha!

storyqueen said...

L and L-Yay! More book buyers!! (Yes, it does speak volumes.......hehehe)

Susan-You are better than I am...my percentage isn't quite that good.

Natalie-Tooooo true.

Tricia-I hate paying postage...(and I kind of hate wrapping, too, if you want to know the truth, so bookstore gift cards are also a good choice.

Julie-You just increased my heartrate...I think it was the reference to new book smell....ahhhhh. And thank you for the award, you are so sweet!

Corey-There is a story in that post if I ever read one! Wow. It made me tear up a bit.

Wendy- Stalk away! I'm glad you found the blog. Stop by as often as you like. And thank you for loving the Good Knight and his dragons!

MG-Actually, I wasn't too thrilled with Rosemary's Secret, until I read it again and again. There is something about a book that calls you back for more.....

Jessie-When are you due!!?? Congratulations. I am very happy for you! And get that shopping done early. Being pregnant in the crowds is hideous. (said the mother of a January 1st baby.)

Richard-I'm going for OcChriShoMo actually.....

Kelly H-Y said...

Thanks for the reminder to get moving on the whole Christmas shopping thing. I can't stand it when even the grocery store is too crowded ... so, I'm with ya! Yes ... books are always a great gift.

PJ Hoover said...

Hey Shelley! Guess who won my lucky horseshoe? Email me via my website with your address!
www.pjhoover.com

Dawn Simon said...

I love giving and receiving books. And signed ones? Even better! One of my uncles used to buy me the Black Stallion books for birthdays and stuff. I loved those books. The uncle, too, of course. ;)

I have a little something for you at my blog.

Clementine said...

Most definitely! My kid's school teams up with Barnes & Noble for a fund raiser later this month. It's a great time to buy. And I'm with you. I don't do crowds. They steal my joy.