Christmas shopping

Hi neighbors. I hope you have your Christmas shopping finished. There are only eight more shopping days you know. And some of them may be pretty difficult to maneuver through.

Do any of you shop on the Internet? Many people do these days. I suppose shopping online is today's version of the mail-order catalog.

Those huge catalogs would come through the mail every year and you had a whole year to figure out what you wanted. Almost anything was available. At one time you could even order houses through the catalog! I don't think automobiles were ever available that way though.

You can buy cars online now, but you can't kick the tires or raise the hood.

It's funny how things seem so different, but remain the same. Of course, left over catalogs served yet another purpose a hundred years ago that laptops and PCs could never perform today.

I remember those huge catalogs being in Granny's outhouse, and not just for reading.

When I was about three years old, I stayed for a few weeks with my aunt. I can still recall us sitting on the front porch in the swing looking through the new Sears catalog.

There were clothes, towels, curtains, pots and pans, yard tools and tools for working on your car.

There were tricycles, bikes, lawnmowers (both powered and not) and pedaled fire trucks.

One section was outdoor furniture, indoor furniture, bathroom fixtures (when few had bathrooms)bedroom suites and even kitchen sinks. I don't recall seeing any desks and entertainment centers were unheard of back then.

I think you could even order chicks in one section of the book and the do-it-yourself brooder house to raise them in. You could buy incubators to hatch eggs in and refrigerators and freezers for the last leg of a chicken's journey.

The appliance section covered everything from gas burning cooking stoves to heating stoves that burnt wood, gas or coal.

Clothing included underwear to rain coats, and work boots to high heels.

For the children, there were always several pages of toys.

The nice thing about the days of mail-order catalogs is the length of shopping time. You had all summer to pick out your Christmas gifts.

Industrious children could circle what they wanted with red crayons and hope for the best.

I suppose there are still catalogs out there, but other than those for seeds and plants, I haven't seen any in a while.

Now and then I'll get a catalog with all those gadgets and goodies in them. You know, the orange peelers, car fans, stairsteps for your dog to get on the bed, etc.

Remember rain bonnets? Do they still make those? I'm sure I have one somewhere in my dresser from 20 years ago. I don't know for certain why I never use it. Probably because it's in my dresser instead of my coat pocket.

Some things never fade from fashion or usefulness. What little girl hasn't wanted a pair of majorette boots? What little boy hasn't asked for a cap-gun? Toys change I suppose but they are still either some small vehicle, some version of a doll, stuffed animal or animal figures.

Young children want toys that represent the real world. Play kitchen sets, work tools, pedaled or battery-powered vehicles, doll houses, farm sets -- toys that let them duplicate their parents actions.

Middle-aged children (tweens) often want things that don't quite fit into the toy bracket. Their world is expanding and they want to participate in it hands-on. Musical instruments, art sets, science labs, battery powered moving toys, board games and building toys, are all popular.

When they get older, it seems they want toys that take them out of the real world. Video games, movies, music CDs, etc.

Or they want electronic tools for entering the work world, and the higher educational levels. Laptops, computers, cell phones, calculators, etc.

Gift buying isn't an easy thing. One reliable gift that fits all ages is a book. From picture books to encyclopedias, everyone enjoys receiving a good book as a gift. Even books that come on a CD or cassette tape are available.

Whether you make gifts of hand-crafted clothing or objects, food or scrapbooks; or if you buy something at the store or online -- it is nearing the end of the shopping season. Better get going! Until the next time friends remember, there are all types of things to buy, make or order to give as gifts. One gift that can't be wrapped is simply spending some time with your loved ones.