Tis the Season

By Evelyn David

The holiday shopping has begun. Chanukah comes EARLY this year (that's the thing about the Jewish calendar – it's lunar, with an extra month every four years, so it never corresponds to the exact same Gregorian calendar date from year to year). Sometimes the eight days of the Festival of Lights coincides with the week of Christmas. This year, Chanukah begins on the night of December 8.

Now before everyone yells at me about Chanukah and gifts – let me state for the record that I like giving gifts. I like thinking about the individual and picking out something I know he or she will like. I have fun wrapping presents. And all of this is in full knowledge that Chanukah is not supposed to be a Jewish substitute for Christmas. It's a minor Jewish holiday and yet…in my childhood, I got a gift from my parents each night, albeit, most nights it was something very small, like socks or a book. But there was one really nice, I really wanted it, gift each year.

So I'm not going to be defensive or apologetic about liking to give gifts – probably even more than receiving them. But here's what's not so great about gifting.

Mailing gifts. Our extended family lives in California, Maryland, upstate New York, Washington, DC, and Israel. The cost of postage or non-USPS delivery often costs more than the gift. Now common sense would be to send a check to all concerned, pop it into an envelope with a 45 cent stamp (to go up to 46 cents on January 1) and call it a day.

But that's no fun.

Or I could pick out a gift on Amazon, have them gift-wrap it for another $5, and have it shipped directly to the recipeient. But unless the gift costs $25, I'll also pay shipping costs.

And I really do enjoy wrapping.

Not the biggest problem in the world. I'd vote for a solution to war before I'd focus on my minor holiday quibble.

What's your gift giving policy?

No gifts

Gifts only for the immediate family

Gifts recipients drawn by lots

Checks/Cash only

Other?

In any case, munching on holiday goodies while I wrap. Sending all good wishes for happy, healthy, fun-filled holiday season for each and every one of you.

Marian

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A Reason to Give Thanks includes: Giving Thanks in Lottawatah, Bah, Humbug in Lottawatah, Moonlighting at the Mall, The Fortune Teller's Face, A Reason to Give Thanks, Sneak Peek – Murder Off the Books, Sneak Peek – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries

A Reason to Give Thanks
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords

 

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle - Nook - Smashwords - Trade Paperback 
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

 

 

Zoned for Murder
Kindle Trade Paperback

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries - e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah - Kindle (exclusive to Amazon this month)
Lottawatah Twister - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah - trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 - I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 - A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)

Romances
Love Lessons - Kindle - Nook - Smashwords