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There's something to be said for frugality.
Before I started here at the Daily News — the beginning of December, if you're keeping score at home — I knew Christmas would be a little sparse for my girlfriend and I. We sold our bicycles and CD collections to put down a security deposit on our little house.
We knew we didn't have enough for a lavish Christmas, but we made a promise that we'd make it up after the 25th, when all the magic happened. The candy went on sale. Christmas seems so much better at 75% off, even if it is a few days late.
Similarly, Wednesday night's jaunt to the store netted some heart-shaped chocolate, more than double the price a few hours prior. Oddly enough, the store took the space that once was Valentine's trinkets and, in the space of a day, transformed the aisle to Easter. Hearts turned into eggs, cupid is now a rabbit.
I guess it's a little gaudy and false how easily one holiday morphs into another. Is there more to Valentine's than chocolates and cards and red food coloring? Sure. Is there more to Christmas than bearded saints and flying reindeer? Absolutely. It makes sense to "put the Christ back in Christmas" and have a simple holiday. So why not other holidays?
I think I'll spend Easter over breakfast with my family and skip the chocolate. Mardi Gras will be reduced to a beer or two. I may forego President's Day and Columbus Day entirely.
Times are tough. Holidays are made by the people you spend time with, not the things you buy them. Your wallet and waistline (oh, that chocolate) won't mind. And those that really love you won't mind either.
There's something to be said for frugality.
Before I started here at the Daily News — the beginning of December, if you're keeping score at home — I knew Christmas would be a little sparse for my girlfriend and I. We sold our bicycles and CD collections to put down a security deposit on our little house.
We knew we didn't have enough for a lavish Christmas, but we made a promise that we'd make it up after the 25th, when all the magic happened. The candy went on sale. Christmas seems so much better at 75% off, even if it is a few days late.
Similarly, Wednesday night's jaunt to the store netted some heart-shaped chocolate, more than double the price a few hours prior. Oddly enough, the store took the space that once was Valentine's trinkets and, in the space of a day, transformed the aisle to Easter. Hearts turned into eggs, cupid is now a rabbit.
I guess it's a little gaudy and false how easily one holiday morphs into another. Is there more to Valentine's than chocolates and cards and red food coloring? Sure. Is there more to Christmas than bearded saints and flying reindeer? Absolutely. It makes sense to "put the Christ back in Christmas" and have a simple holiday. So why not other holidays?
I think I'll spend Easter over breakfast with my family and skip the chocolate. Mardi Gras will be reduced to a beer or two. I may forego President's Day and Columbus Day entirely.
Times are tough. Holidays are made by the people you spend time with, not the things you buy them. Your wallet and waistline (oh, that chocolate) won't mind. And those that really love you won't mind either.
