To which my response was this..."I took care of it."
I enjoy shopping. Year-round. For myself. I'm very good at picking out things that I like. SO, as I "shop for others" during the holiday season, if I see something I can't live without, I buy it, wrap it, put it under the Christmas tree To: Me, From: either James, Santa, or Me. I like to mix it up a little. Am I selfish? Probably...okay, yes. However, I like to think of my shopping habits as having the spirit of Christmas year-round (definitions may vary)...and around Christmas-time, I know James would rather have me get something that I want than waste money on something that I would maybe only sort-of want. Right? We have an understanding...I think...
On Saturday, James and I decided to go to Billings "for fun." Note to self: shopping on the Saturday before Christmas = wanting to commit suicide while standing in line for 3 hours or trying to squeeze my way through the mall. Not fun. Anyway, we declared it "shopping for ourselves" day. Or maybe I did. Either way, James really wanted to buy me stocking stuffers. So, we were wandering around the mall and I happened to see a down vest that I really liked...I was pretty sure that I could stuff that sucker into my stocking...it was $100, on sale for 25% off.
Lady checking us out: "That will be $85.00."
James: (Starts handing over credit card).
Me: "Isn't it 25% off?"
Lady: "Yep."
Me: ...(remember there is no sales tax in Billings...)
Me: "Then shouldn't it be $75.00?"
Lady: ........
Me: "Am I frickin' losing it?" (You know how you're so certain of something, but when someone else acts like they are just as certain, you start doubting your mad math skills that you learned in 3rd grade? I mean, come on. It was a percentage off of $100).
Lady: (Takes out calculator...Seriously???)
Me, after seeing her take out the calculator: "Yeah, I'm not losing it."
Lady, after some serious calculations: "Oh, you're right! Thank you so much for telling me. I must have used the wrong code...I wonder how many other people I did that to today?"
James: (still holding out credit card)...
Moral of the story: If you bought something at Eddie Bauer on Saturday, check your receipt.
On a more serious note...I want everyone to know that, despite what I just said, I actually do know the "true" meaning of Christmas...I even got a fortune cookie at Chinatown the other night that said, "In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." That's right, I live my life according to fortune cookies. (I'd also like to note that I did give up a lot of other things that I could have bought myself...just sayin')... But yes. I am grateful for the spirit of Christmas - for the chance we have to celebrate Christ's birth - and to remember the way He lived His life: in service to those around Him...and that He did "give up" everything. I know that if we, too, lose ourselves in service that we will receive greater satisfaction and happiness in life than any sweater, scarf, or pair of shoes could ever give us! :) So Merry Christmas, everyone!!!
