I started thinking about this after reading a recent Xanga Datingish blog... a woman was whining about how expensive it gets to buy presents for her SO during the holiday season. So in rebuttal... I wrote this piece of fiction.
Blank I woke up to the distant rumble of thunder, outside my window. The panes were dripping, coated in water that was crying from the sky. Wrapped up in night-made warmth, I felt my body slowly become aware of life beyond this subconscious dream-state. My legs were tangled up, I eyed my private giggle of blood-red sheets hiding under a black and gray blanket. The entire world... was dim. But the blinds were closed, the heat turned on low, and the lights subdued... of course, the world was not as bright as it should be. I moved to the deck's doors, and pulled on the blinds covering them - looked out at a world washed in gray and heavenly tears.
Cranking up the heat, I made coffee, I munched on breakfast, I perused the morning news. America was still going to hell in a hand-basket, led by conflicting political parties, depending on what channel I flipped through... I felt my eyes glaze, taking in "Every Kiss Begins with Kay" diamonds... KY lube bound to override every sexual dysfunction or mental block... and the eternal Christmas-season warm-and-fuzzy commercial, showing the quintessential family of four complete with a mound of store-brought presents and a yapping terrier.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I headed back to the bedroom, reaching for my pullover sweatshirt and slipper socks. I pulled back the folding door to the closet, and perused, getting ready to pick out my clothes for the morning ahead... and stopped.
My clothes were all there, perfectly lined, color coordinated, organized by item type and shoe design. My belts hung on hooks, my dresses shrouded in dry-cleaning bags. It was perfect. But your side... was blank. The memories struggled to throw themselves back into my immediate consciousness, but I stopped them with a hand that I reached up to lean on the wall with. Your clothes... belts... pajamas... shoes... ties... jerseys... were gone.
That half of the closet... was gone. I forced myself to swivel, and take in the room behind me - and I saw the empty spaces that I had ignored this morning. The spot where your computer had hummed. The space on the bedside table where you put your watch and phone. The space where my pillow had been shoved over, the exact spot where yours had used to be... that hollow space in the queen-sized bed where you used to fill it up.
I straightened my spine, and turned around again, picking out clothes... going through the rituals of showering and shaving and brushing my teeth and hair... I applied makeup fastidiously and stepped into heels. I looked perfect... the perfect china doll.
I prepared to step outside into the world, with my purse slung over my shoulder and my car keys in my hand. I had left the TV on, and it was running through another schmaltzy Christmas commercial. I thought back to last night, when my friend was whining about how much it cost to buy her boyfriend a Christmas present. "He doesn't really want anything, he says, but then when I only get him something small he whines! The man can never make up his mind!" I had smiled, and laughed, and teased her that he would probably be happy with whatever she gave him, so long as sex came after.
I realized that this Christmas I would spend it surrounded by family and friends... and that I was blessed, to have a warm home, and a job, and a car. I had a place to call my own, and a support system. I realized that I was far more fortunate than many in our country.
"But never... never whine, about buying gifts for someone who loves you. Be thankful that he's in your life, and love him like crazy... you never know when they might not be there."
True 
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Comments (9)
It's not the gift that matters but the thought behind it. I could hire someone to buy the "perfect gift" for me without me thinking about it, but what's the sentimental value of that? Worthless, because all I did was throw around money for the gift with no thought or work (not including the fact of obtaining the money).
In fact I think I like handcraft gifts more, especially if it relates back to something and looks totally awesome. :D
Side note: I plan on making something as a present, I just need access to a sewing machine because my hand-stitching is horrendous.
Honestly... I think these are two unrelated blogs. People can and will complain about anything. It's not your place to regulate them.
I agree with this post.
I made my girlfriend a Christmas present. It means much more from the heart than something you could just buy.
Instead of buying gifts, I made a ton of artwork for my boyfriend, baked cookies, and burned him a few CD's. We're both short on money, and gifts don't matter to us, it's the time spent together. He loves watching me sketch and draw things from Pokemon to serious realistic animals, we love listening to music, and food is our favorite pastime :P We cook, bake, and eat when we're together. It's all healthy and fun food.
No one needs gifts to keep their relationship going. If you do, sad, sad, sad.
Even though people will complain, it really does just make you wonder if they ever step back and think: "Wow... I really do appreciate all these things." I don't do that as often as I should. But it does happen occasionally. Loved this. The smallest realizations can put things in perspective. :)
This post made me so sad.. I too am in the throes of a breakup and will be spending my first Christmas alone for 7 years. Its so true that you learn to appreciate the people who are there for you and family so much more
we need a short-storyish. this was good.. so sad though.
@HollowTendencies@xanga - we DO need a short-storyish!! :)