Remembering Elliana: Christmas Shopping at The Dollar Store

It would have been the Christmas of 2008 when I had the idea to take Elliana to The Dollar Store so she could buy presents for people who were going to be giving her presents. Rose went with us to get some stocking stuffers for her kids, but I think she had some idea about what was going to happen and wanted to see it.

We grabbed a cart and headed off toward the gifts for her grandparents, her uncles, and her mom and dad. Rose headed off on her own. 

We grabbed some of the goodies at the entrance, and then headed off for the candles. Before we got there, though, we ran into some stuff that would go along with the candles and other gifts. This continued on after the candles. We headed for the keychains, but we stopped along the way to get some other stuff for some other friends. 

Why I Gave Up Christmas Shopping

Christmas has always been a weird holiday for me. 

As a child, we celebrated Christmas on Christmas eve because my older sister's birthday is on the 25th. I always felt a bit bad for Maureen. People would give her one gift and tell her it was for both Christmas and her birthday. However, that was her problem. It only seemed weird to me.

The problem that I had with Christmas was that it seemed to be more stressful than happy for the adults. Also, the need to buy knickknacks for other people kept me from buying the slot car racetrack I wanted for myself. In return, I would get trinkets, toys, and clothes that cost everyone more than the racetrack that I wanted, if they had pooled their money. 

Topping Her Dad at Something

I was greeted at the door by my youngest granddaughter.

"Hi Papa. Merry Christmas and welcome," she said. 

It was not her normal greeting. She was excited because Christmas Eve is when her father's family gathers at her home to exchange Christmas gifts. I was there for the food and the cookies, and to see the grandkids before they got started.

The cousins had not yet arrived. Her mom and dad were getting things ready for the evening. She was all mine to talk to and play with for a while.

The Best Christmas Present (Newsletter - Issue 302 in January 2001)

Christmas was going to be different this year. With Erin back at her mom's house in West Virginia, it would be the first time in her thirteen years that she wouldn't be with me. I know she is well, and that she is with people who love her, but it didn't make it that much easier for me to deal with. 

One of the biggest changes was that I would have to get the stuff going back to her into the mail well before Christmas Eve (my usual shopping day). That was way easier to deal with than is the reason that change was necessary. However, I'm a strong man, and other people have had to endure far greater adversity in their lives. Even knowing this, it's difficult at times to not just feel sorry for myself.