Just a quick reminder...

Wow. Tomorrow commences the Last Weekend Before Christmas Mosh Pit o' Shopping. I've worked many holidays in retail. I'm familiar with the hordes and throngs of people all fighting and clawing their way to the last Incredibles action figure or that last bag of socks. For years now I've been the one to ring all of you people up. As one of the masses that were created simply to serve you (me? sarcastic? Nooooo), let me remind you of a few things:

• What is popular exactly this second will be incredibly unpopular on Dec 26 and then become the most returned gift of the season. By buying the same gift as everybody else you become passe'--the exact opposite of what you were going for.
• Wee ones much prefer the wrapping of the gift to the gift itself. That zillion dollar bleeping monstrosity will go mostly unplayed with as Junior or Juniorette goes crazy over the bright paper, perfectly drum-onable box and yummy ribbons, but buy that thing anyway because it's driving me nuts!
• White shirt=punch magnet
• I keep the paper you sign, you keep the itemized receipt.
• Gift receipts mean jack. If the store sells it, it can be exchanged. If it can't be exchanged, do you really want to be shopping there anyway?
• Buy the gift card. Inevitably somebody that you did not buy a gift for will buy a gift for you. Wouldn't you like to have a $5 gift card handy that you can give them as if you were planning on doing that all along?
• If it was on Oprah at all this year it is sold out.
• Retail workers are people too!
• This is the season for giving, not reinacting the battle scenes from every war movie you've ever seen. Don't think about how much you're spending, or beating out the random guy to your left on his quest for the exact same item. Think of the person you're buying for and whether or not they will truly enjoy and appreciate what you're giving them. When all is said and done, it is the thought that counts and if it doesn't count in your crowd, then I feel sorry for you. I'd much rather have my Grandmother's crocheted pot holders than some expensive gift that I won't ever get any use out of or be able to appreciate because I'll be too scared of damaging it.

Have a good shopping weekend!