All I want for Christmas.

[rsadelle]

Every year since I was a small child, I've made a wish list. This was a great parenting tool. Every time my brother or I wanted something we saw in a store or on TV or in the paper, my mom would say, "Let's put it on your wish list." She'd write it down and we wouldn't fuss as much.

As an adult, I increasingly feel like telling people what to give me is tacky. On the other hand, having my brother's wish list makes shopping for him much easier; I don't know him all that well these days, and the list helps.

My wish list this year is simple. I risk sounding both pretentious and sappy with this, but there are only two things I want:

1. A better world.
   
2. Connection with other people.

These may seem grandiose, but they're not impossible, and there is a place for you.

A better world.
Do something this holiday season that makes the world a better place. That could mean making a financial contribution to a worthy cause, buying a stranger's coffee, or volunteering in one of the many holiday endeavors you'll find in any community.

Connection with other people.
Send me a letter or an email; there are few things I love more than getting mail. The card is always my favorite part of the gift.

I'll be doing both of these this season.

I'm trying to make a list of causes to financially support. (My original intention was to find eleven, one each for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and each of the eight nights of Chanukah. Not only am I having trouble thinking of eleven, but two are time-limited and have to be done before Christmas.) I keep debating with myself about whether or not I should post about the causes I'm choosing to support. On the one hand, I want to encourage other people to support worthy causes. On the other hand, there's that whole thing about how much more valuable tzedakah is when it's given without anyone knowing you've done it.

I'll also be making an effort to write real holiday cards this year, instead of a simple, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

This is not to say, however, that material gifts won't be appreciated or given. I'm making my list and checking it twice right now, and it's not like I'll be sending back any fabulous gifts you may be inclined to get for me.

Comments

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Ooh, lists. I should start making lists, and preparing to buy/make presents for people. (I'm knitting a shawl for my brother's girlfriend.)

I have a half-finished letter for you that I need to get out. Somewhere in between the mess in my bedroom, I think. *eyes it nervously from a distance* (I swear, I'm going to discover Jimmy Hoffa's corpse somewhere in there.

[rsadelle]

I've figured out what I'm getting for several people on my list already, and the others will probably also be easy to figure out. I just have to put a little more thought into it and, in the case of two families, find out if they're coming to the party or not. (They only get gifts if they do.) Also, thanks for the sibling's SO reminder. If Jen's coming to Christmas/Hanukkah, I suppose I should get her something.

(Do you know that because you killed him?)

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

My friends are easy enough to shop for, and I know what to get for the youngest one, but my parents and oldest brother are hell to shop for. (Do you think I could get away with giving both my brother and my dad the same book?)

(*eyedart** I deny everything!)

[rsadelle]

Hmm. I don't know that you'd want to get them the same thing. Maybe if you gave them the book and something else too.

[allegram.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
It can't be time to think about christmas yet! Not yet time for the torture of trying to show the people you love that you care by finding the perfect gift for them (that they don't already have...).

I really appreciate the list though Ruth, no matter how well I know a person I just don't seem to be very good at picking out presents unless they tell me what they want. I mean, I always call home for parental approval before I buy presents for sibs or parents (and often don't get it) just cuz I can never really tell.

But um, on a totally unrelated subject, what are 3 or four complementing colors/shades that you wouldn't mind having on your wall?

[rsadelle]

It totally is if you want to be done with your shopping before the crowds descend like vultures.

See, that's the other thing about lists. There's this whole mystique thing about how if you really know someone, you'll be able to get just the perfect gift for them without asking about it. I'm usually pretty good at that (although if I ever get you anything you don't like, I won't be insulted), but there are a couple of people where I just have no idea. However, I have learned to pay attention through the year, and I have a whole file on my computer where I keep notes about gift ideas for people.

Uh... Are you sure that's unrelated? Also, I don't really know. I actually like bright colors even though I don't have very many of them around. Um. Nothing ugly.

Causes to support

[archivecats.livejournal.com]

Don't forget humane societies, both national (like the Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA) and local. Jimmy Carter would like you to donate to Habitat for Humanity. Then there's Amnesty International. On a different note, there are libraries both local and UNC. Reading is Fundamental would like donations. There's the World Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation and the Nature Conservancy - just don't read their magazines, which have beautiful pictures but mostly depressing articles; my mother got rid of years of back issues when we moved. There's the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society and the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. There's even a place in DC called the House of Ruth (http://www.houseofruth.org). :) At Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org) you can search through charities by category or geographic region and make sure that you are giving to good ones. After five minutes there, you ought to have way more than eleven to choose from!

Re: Causes to support

[rsadelle]

The library is an excellent idea, and one that hadn't made it onto my list.

I'd thought of Habitat, and I got a "donate to us" thing in the mail today.

I do have the local environmental group on my possibilities list.

I also came up with two more at work, although I've now forgotten one of them, but luckily I wrote it down. (I think it came up during our staff meeting, but I can't remember what it was.)

My list of possibilities before I read this comment was actually up to 13, so it looks like I just have to figure out which ones I actually want to support and how much money I have to do it with.