I've been super busy shopping for presents this year, this time starting "early" (1st week of Dec). I have to say it's been much less stresful, however the feeling that "oh i've got more time" is starting to fade FAST.

Like every year i have big dreams and ideas for gifts, which reality soon sets in and i'm down in the shopping mall xmas bins just like everyone else.

As space since university grow along to many of the friendships from that period, i'm wondering which friends i should get presents for, which get a holiday card/email, and which i just say "happy holidays" to if i ever run into them. I've boiled it down to "who comes mind and i feel close to" - sounds general, but it seems to work. Using time as a metric is not effective since I have strong connections with some friends whom i see may be once or twice a year. Let's hope I don't miss anyone by accident.

Thankfully I have a reserve of extra gifts that are very universal and can be personalize if required :). I don't mind giving someone a gift or a card w/o them having anything, b/c i totally understand their forgetfulness. It's the REVERSE that i hate.

Well, got one week to go and so far no suprises. Sweet :)

Happy Holidays,

RE

"eat drink and be merry"