Less stress
DOES the rush to the Christmas crush have to be so stressful? Not about to morph into Grinch, the creature who stole Christmas, I imagine there must be a sane way of working around Christmas’ nervewracking merriment. Supposing we play the aggressive parts before and after Christmas, and leave the holy part – peace on earth, silent night holy night, going to church – for Dec. 24 and 25? Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and that kind of time-and-space sharing, that we may enjoy the true spirit of the first Christmas without the frazzle and the frenzy?
Shop online to avoid the hassle of looking for gifts and then having to deliver them. Minus the thrill of touching and smelling them on your screen?
If you haven’t prepared your shopping list yet, get ready to repent. The crowds are getting thicker in the stores. The lines at Rustan’s of those waiting for gifts to be wrapped professionally, handsomely are growing longer and more nervous by the hour. You still have tomorrow.
Deliver gifts after 10 p.m. or later. The roads are easier to navigate and the air is cooler, less polluted.
Planning a party? Try to schedule it before Dec. 10. Organize one big one instead of several.
Now, the week after Halloween, is the time for reunions. Spare yourself and fellow oldies the madness of December socials.
Cut down on your socializing. You will get better as you tell more white lies to decline an invitation.
Who needs to build a warehouse of gifts? As the late E. S. used to dictate on us, “At our age, what kind of presents do we need to give and receive to assert our fondness for each other?”
Keep gifts cheap but witty, humorous. Also, buy in bulk. Two hundred pesos max sounds achievable.
Exchange-gift parties won’t go out of fashion if you schedule them after Dec. 26 and before Jan. 6.
Forget office parties – who wants to end the night in a bar with an officemate?
Parties at home are twice the fun and half the cost. Your guests come to you while you play it cool and relaxed, away from crowded streets and pushy beggars.
On the last working day (Dec. 23?), food and nonalcoholic drinks at lunchtime are good before shutting down for the holidays. No hard drinks, leave before traffic turns bad, arrive safe at home.
Gift certificates are the best thing to happen to recipients older than infants. Kids from 5 to 100 are likely to loathe your “baduy” taste, but they will respect your gc’s if crisp, crunchy peso bills aren’t your style.