I went shopping on Black Friday and despite it, I am doing OK.
I am not a shopper, but I do love to buy presents. I pride myself on listening to my loved one's wants and needs. I try to pick up on any of their hints and then read all the news on the latest and the greatest gifts of the season. By October, I usually have some good ideas. This year though, I have nada, nil, zippo, nothing, not even a clue what to get.
Everybody seems to be obsessed with their latest phone, tablet or laptop. Their lives appear to revolve around being connected through social media. I have watched people at social gatherings who look like they are engaged in a conversation, casually glance at their phones (which they always have not far from their fingertips) every few minutes. Right now three of my grandchildren are sitting in my family room playing on their hand-held devices with the oldest one multitasking on three. Games they enjoy to play no longer come in a box but are downloaded. It seems that so much can be acquired instantaneously and people's needs satisfied with a click of an app. Santa Claus no longer has to travel all that distance on Christmas Eve, Apple and Amazon have taken his place. The old guy has been outsourced.
This holiday season will be different. I have always enjoyed wrapping and giving gifts with beautiful paper and ribbons. It is a way to tell the people I love how special they are to me. This year though I am perplexed, because how do you wrap an app?
I am not a shopper, but I do love to buy presents. I pride myself on listening to my loved one's wants and needs. I try to pick up on any of their hints and then read all the news on the latest and the greatest gifts of the season. By October, I usually have some good ideas. This year though, I have nada, nil, zippo, nothing, not even a clue what to get.
Everybody seems to be obsessed with their latest phone, tablet or laptop. Their lives appear to revolve around being connected through social media. I have watched people at social gatherings who look like they are engaged in a conversation, casually glance at their phones (which they always have not far from their fingertips) every few minutes. Right now three of my grandchildren are sitting in my family room playing on their hand-held devices with the oldest one multitasking on three. Games they enjoy to play no longer come in a box but are downloaded. It seems that so much can be acquired instantaneously and people's needs satisfied with a click of an app. Santa Claus no longer has to travel all that distance on Christmas Eve, Apple and Amazon have taken his place. The old guy has been outsourced.
This holiday season will be different. I have always enjoyed wrapping and giving gifts with beautiful paper and ribbons. It is a way to tell the people I love how special they are to me. This year though I am perplexed, because how do you wrap an app?
That IS a problem. I guess you give a fantabulous card with lots of noise and glitter with a note in it that says "you've been app'd" lol.
ReplyDeleteThat was a terrific comment. Delores!
DeleteYou could wrap a box very festively, with just a note inside it that says, to borrow Delores' idea "you've been apped". That way you still get to wrap a box and do it up with ribbons, and they will have a gift to unwrap. If you give it to them in advance they will be fooled!
ReplyDeleteThere is hope. My 9 year old granddaughter is texting me names of crafts she would like. She even threw in that she has a $10.00 coupon for me for Toy's R Us. Of course I have to spend $100 in order to take advantage of this discount.
DeleteGeez, Arleen. I'd go with Lawless' and Terra's ideas. Thankfully everyone I have gifts for aren't in the app loop. Or if they are they know I'm not tech-savvy enough to do such things. lol
ReplyDeleteIt is only a matter of time before the trees will be virtual ( if it has not already happened). I wonder how much that app will be?
DeleteLove Delores comment as much as your fantastic header. I'll bear it in mind - I haven't got a clue what to get either
ReplyDeleteDelores' comment was wonderful.
DeleteI am happy that you like the picture. It was last year's tree. I have not decorated this year's tree and will try to put that off for as long as I can.
I still give books. Classics. Nicely wrapped.
ReplyDeleteThey download those also.
DeleteI am soooo with you on this. My teens want all electronics, and the expensive ones.
ReplyDeletemy youngest two still play with games and toys, so I ordered board games today and airsoft guns....oh and a fancy toaster for my daughter.
electronics are taking over communicate, that is for sure.
It is the new world and it will keep changing rapidly - too rapidly for me.
DeleteYou are a black Friday survivor. Sandie
ReplyDeleteI can relate! I can never afford my nephews wishes so I buy them old school toys despite themselves and they find them fascinating. It's amusing for me too (and a lot cheaper)
ReplyDeleteArleen, A wonderful post and so full of truths. My first thought to your question is...there's an app for that! In my household everyone gets pjs and a book. My husband told me he didn't need anymore pjs. I simply replied. That is one less gift for you to open. I do spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect gifts for every one. That is my Christmas gift to myself. Hugs. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteI am impressed that you went out on BF. Did you find any good deals? I hear you...hard to buy for the young ones these days. I end up giving money....you could wrap that in big boxes! :-)
ReplyDeleteI went out at 4 am after the die-hard crazy shoppers and before those reasonable hour "can't miss a sale" people. There was hardly anyone there and it was perfect. I was home by 6 am which was perfect.
DeleteYou wrap it in Bacon!
ReplyDeleteEvery year we do the same thing for grandchildren...gift cards to barnes and noble. We've been consistent enough that they look forward all year. It's SO easy!(I usually give somelittle thing with it). Maybe you shouldn't listen to what they "want" and give them something they need, but just don't know it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI figure we must go out on BF once a decade, to keep 'real'. To wrap and app? Print out info on the app. Place the print-out in something clever: between two slices of bread, in a book, taped to an action figure, in a shoe box with old ratty shoes...Let me know what you decide to do.
ReplyDeleteI find it quite annoying that youngsters pay attention only to their gadgets. I find them very boring, to tell the truth. Conversation is dead, as far as they are concerned. I am grateful that there are enough interesting and intelligent adults in my life who still enjoy the art of conversation.
ReplyDeleteWhen one of my young families visited recently, all four of them (mum and dad included) fiddled about with their phones and tablets. I left them to it and picked up a book.
Great post! And I think most of us can relate. Not sure about the ages of all the children involved, but maybe in addition to giving them those apps they want, you could have each one help you select a small toy for a child in need. Then, you'd have the pleasure of wrapping those gifts, and your grandchildren would have the pleasure of helping give something to another child. Or you could just give them all socks and underwear.
ReplyDeleteEvery year we adopt a family for Christmas and the grandchildren participate. I think it is never too early to teach children how fortunate they are and it is a gift for them to help and assist others who are having a difficult time. This lesson is the greatest gift I could give to them.
DeleteWhy am I not surprised? You're right; appreciation and empathy really are the greatest gifts.
DeleteScrap the apps, and the hardware. Get something soothing, like a nice shawl or sweater.
ReplyDeleteHi Arleen,
ReplyDeleteAh yes, how do you wrap an app. Perhaps your supposed to download virtual wrapping paper.
I know I'm not obsessed with the latest gadget. Crayons and paper and away I go.
Of course, the gifts of love with your family and sharing such gifts with your 'adopted' family, is a profound lesson that embraces gratitude.
Gary
My grandchildren are still very small, 6, 4, and 1 ½ so they don’t have phones yet but I know it won’t be long before they will be only interested in electronics. I read the comments and there are some good ideas there. Buying presents can be tricky.
ReplyDeleteI can still buy toys for my 6,8 and 9 year old granddaughters, it is the 11, 13,and 14 year olds that have me wondering what to do.
DeleteOne of my son's favorite gifts was when we gave him unlimited texting years ago. He didn't seem to mind that it wasn't gift wrapped, and I'm sure they'll love the apps too!
ReplyDeleteJulie
If you buy a gift card for iTunes, you can put it in a nice envelope and attach it to a box of chocolates or another small gift, etc. I've done it before and it works out well that way.
ReplyDeleteI lament about the same things... though the advanced technology is jawdropping to me in how complex it all is, I feel that it can be a double edged sword, and for every advantage there are multiple disadvantages. Including that so much of it can become Addictive... and like Tech Crack to many in Society who have come to rely upon it heavily or replace it for actual Socialization with people face to face. I see folks having meals together and nobody is really giving the human(s)in front of them their full attention because they're so busy taking calls, texting, or whatever else their tech advanced gadgets are distracting them with! It's rather sad really... and yet, to be up to speed in today's workforce the young people must be able to navigate the technology in order to compete effectively and not be Tech Challenged {such as myself}. And Truly there are Friendships I have made because of Technology... such as Blogging, so the upside is Wonderful... if BALANCED with Real Life. *Winks* I Hope you are able to find a balanced approach to gift giving this year... BTW, your Ornament Exchange is a Lovely Sentimental Idea, Thanks for Sharing it during your Christmas Blog Visit.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
Hi, I am your newest follower. Love you blog and insightful posts. Looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week!
Dear Arleen, I so agree with you and with Bohemian's comment. This love affair with technology has both a long list of cons as well as pros. I'm always amazed to see people eating meals and not talking with one another but with someone on a cell or smart phone.
ReplyDeleteAs to Christmas, my family doesn't exchange gifts with the adults any more. We do give to the children and fortunately, they are still reading bound paper books and so I give each child a book for Christmas. Peace.
I am finding that many enjoy to get some money with a card so they can go and pick out what they want themselves, in the after Christmas specials. A win win situation and its not a lot of stress and strain. Blessings from Oz.
ReplyDeleteFor the longest I thought dementia had taken over the younger generation...constantly talking to the refrigerator, the vegetables at the grocery story, and muttering as they walked down the street
ReplyDelete