Christmas is coming!

Hi neighbors. I hope many of you got to attend the Christmas parade this year. Although it was cold, there wasn't any snow or ice as is too often the case. Unfortunately, it was too cold for me to venture out; but I did enjoy the nice photos in the Nevada Daily Mail.

I don't decorate much for Christmas any more since I have no small children around to impress with lights and "Ho! Ho! Ho!" laughing toy Santas. I was gifted with a bobble head Santa, which sets on my dining room table year round and dances in the sun filled window.

Usually my son and daughter-in-law come over for Christmas lunch or supper and we open gifts. My daughter lives in Des Moines and the weather is usually too serious to make the trip either way possible.

Since I know little about the wants and needs of a modern 15-year-old girl and even less about the world of technology and/or gaming, I usually request a list of choices from those on my gift list. If they don't make a list of choices, they get gift cards or cash.

I know they are all disappointed with cash or gift cards, but we make up for it with surprise gifts when I go to visit my daughter or when my son or his wife let me know something they want during the rest of the year.

I have no doubts that there is very little my children need so their wants are secondary in my mind. As for myself, there is nothing I need other than groceries on a regular basis and light bulbs changed as they burn out. My son gifts me with these necessities as needed.

My son and son-in-law are both techies and know all about connecting one type of mystery machine with another. Both of their main television sets have more cords hanging out the back than a foreign call agent has connected to their computer.

I feel a new television or music machine would have adequate speakers. However, the rest of my family feel at least five other speakers need to be spliced in to give a surround sound experience. My poor ears and me have no desire to be bombarded with sound from all sides. There is nowhere to hide! I don't like the sensation of actually being within a tornado or in battle on an actual battlefield exploding all around me.

The promised deep silence of space is not available with seven speakers and even the aliens scream in pain as lasers flash around them.

A simple song on a CD takes on the brain splitting volume of a heavy metal concert when heard on surround sound. I have learned to enjoy the old silent movies with the piano or organ music turned way down.

People still like the high tech toys though. Although not as big on the gift lists as in the past, tools for the home repair fanatic are still good gifts. Pet toys are big items. Anything small and cute for babies or toddlers is popular. My favorites are little shoes for babies.

Winter is soon here, so coats, scarves, mittens, gloves or hats are always good choices. Boots are a nice gift.

Clothes in general are a bit tricky unless you know the person very well who you are getting them for and even then they may not like them.

Books are a standard gift that is still popular. DVDs or music CDs are always in style. My granddaughter always enjoys a prepaid card to buy music she can download onto her listening device. Video games are still the rage but if you don't know which ones they already have you may get one that they have already bought for themselves. Nothing for it but to ask them. Or have them make a list of choices like I do.

The gift of time is often the best gift you can share. Spend some time with someone you know who is a shut in. Go visit a family elder you haven't seen in a while. Spend time with the grandchildren or your own adult children.

Don't forget there are people who have a difficult time at Christmas. Let one or two of your gifts be to these people with gifts of toys, clothing and food.

Christmas is about sharing after all. Enjoy shopping and enjoy being with family for Christmas!