I don’t really believe in Black Friday. I guess somewhere along the line I was young enough, brave enough, and desperate enough to participate but I’m not sure it even had a name back then. We didn’t have a whole lot of money but I loved putting a lot of wrapped presents under the tree (I was probably more excited than my kids). Either we raised them to be appreciative and excited about anything they received or they just accepted the fact that they were going to get gifts that they needed, mainly clothes or school supplies. I’m sure there were a few surprises tucked in there somewhere.
In this Century, a new skirt or sweater or book wouldn’t hold a candle to the newest electronic gadget with Apps to track your every move, bring a stranger to your very door or give you therapeutic solace if you make a mistake.
As I did last year, this year my gifts to people I love and appreciate but haven’t a clue as to their needs or desires, I ordered through the Samaritan’s Purse catalog. They send to you or for you, cards telling the recipients about the “In honor of” gifts purchased in their names. You can roam through the catalog and choose water purification projects, farm animals, medical or educational or religious supplies, or whatever you can “adopt” to benefit a child, a family, or a village. Of course you know you are talking to a farm girl here. I bought a lamb that will grow into something to grow thick wool for making clothing to wear or to sell. So it wouldn’t be lonely, I ordered a dairy goat that will give milk to be made into cheese, yogurt or butter and maybe generate other income. And to watch over them, I bought part ownership in a donkey for many kinds of labor.
Christmas is a time for giving but somehow it doesn’t fulfill my needs as a giver to wrap gifts that cost a lot more than they are worth to be put on a shelf to gather dust by the receiver or throw their heretofore healthy diet into a tizzy. This way everyone benefits. The Salvation Army is also a favorite place to donate any time of the year. I know these two organizations will make good use of whatever I give them and the head CEO doesn’t draw the same kind of money as somebody in the top echelon of a bank or those sitting in Congress twiddling their thumbs (Just thought I’d throw that in there). That’s enough of my thoughts. God Bless until next week.
Minshall’s RVing Alaska and Canada (A “How to” and “Why not” book) is available thru Amazon.
At 45, Widow Minshall began 20 years of solo full-time RVing throughout Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Sharlene canoed the Yukon, mushed sled dogs, worked a dude ranch, visited Hudson Bay polar bears, and lived six months on a Mexican beach. She lectured at Life on Wheels, published six RV-related books and wrote a novel, “Winter in the Wilderness.”
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