There鈥檚 never been more emphasis on buying local and supporting small business as this Christmas, for obvious reasons. I鈥檝e tried to do my part and found it a rewarding experience that I鈥檒l repeat in coming years. It鈥檚 good for our community, the economy and for us customers too, since these folks produce and carry quality, unique items.
That goes for toys too, as I鈥檓 sure Santa would agree. Back in the day, when my brother and I were kids, giving gifts to children was easier. There were no wildly expensive electronics for sale, no video games or sophisticated technology. No one seemed particularly worried about our cognitive ability either, and whether or not we might benefit from 鈥渆ducational鈥� toys.
Nope, we were given free rein to create and explore without 小蓝视频 told how to do it or given elaborate tools to accomplish it. Our fertile imaginations knew no bounds. I mean, sure we had our share of toys, some of them even required batteries, but they became part of the games we thought up, they didn鈥檛 dictate them.
For instance, one year I was given a large plastic doll. Her legs and arms moved, with effort and a loud clicking noise, but she wasn鈥檛 soft and cuddly, and she didn鈥檛 talk, eat, light up or smell like a vanilla latte. Yet, she and I went on some grand adventures together. Granted, one day I came home from school to find her hanging by her neck from the doorway to my room, but those were the hazards when you had a little brother.
Another Christmas, Bill and I each scored a Crazy Carpet; a thick sheet of pliable plastic for sledding. Remember those? Talk about a simple toy. We rushed straight out to a hill near our home where, due to a snow deficiency, and a distinct lack of foresight, I slid over a big rock and cracked my tailbone. Good times.
Recently, I overheard two young boys discussing Santa and the whole gift situation. It was an easy conversation to hear for two reasons. Boys of this size have little to no concept of what鈥檚 commonly known as an, 鈥渋nside voice鈥�, and current social distancing restrictions make yelling at people quite acceptable.
鈥淗ave you been good this year?鈥� one hollered, his eyes flicking back and forth as though expecting that pesky, Elf on a Shelf guy, to lunge from behind the swing set and take notes. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I have. I鈥檓 worried Santa won鈥檛 come.鈥�
鈥淟isten,鈥� shouted his friend with a conspiratorial air, 鈥淚 learned something you should know.鈥� He leaned closer and cupped a hand beside his mouth to ensure the message came through loud and clear. 鈥淚 was bad all last year 鈥� I mean really, really BAD, and it didn鈥檛 make any difference at all. I got lots of presents, just like always, so I鈥檓 not bothering with 小蓝视频 good any more. You shouldn鈥檛 either.鈥�
Proof like that is hard to discredit. Yet, as far as gifts go, we can all be good if we keep them a little simpler and shop close to home; from businesses where our dollar is appreciated and needed.
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