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Sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be efficient.
This year, Benjamin cut pictures from sale catalogs and hung them on the refrigerator to show what he wants for Christmas. He only selected a few items, which may be good or bad – it’s good that he doesn’t want the whole store, but his limited list also means limited choices for the givers.
However, Ken’s mom – Benjamin’s Oma – told me a month or so ago that she was getting Benjamin a suit for Christmas. OK, so that’s not very exciting, but at least I knew what not to get.
On the Monday after Thanksgiving, I hit the stores to do my shopping. (I couldn’t get Ken’s gift yet, because he still hadn’t told me what he wanted, but at least I could get my major purchase for Benjamin out of the way.) At Wal-Mart I was able to find the specific Lego Bionicle – Maxilos and Spinax – that he wanted the most.
I brought the toy home and hid it in my closet. I felt quite pleased that I had gotten something I knew Benjamin wanted. I was even more satisfied with myself when it came time for the annual Rotary Christmas party.
Benjamin got in line with the other children to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. (Actually, I was somewhat surprised that Benjamin wanted to talk with Santa, considering he’s never “believed” in the jolly old elf. In fact, I’ve heard my first-grader telling his best friend “Santa is just people dressed up.” But that’s another story.)
When it came to his turn, Benjamin told Santa he wants “Lego Bionicle Maxilos and Spinax, and that’s it.” “YES!” I thought. I got exactly the right gift.
Fast forward to the next weekend. Benjamin spent the night at Oma’s house because Ken and I had his company Christmas dinner late on Saturday night. Before bringing Benjamin home Sunday afternoon, Oma took him to Wal-Mart so he could show her what he wanted for Christmas.
Of course he showed her Maxilos and Spinax. Then and there, she bought the toy, put it in the trunk of her car, and told Benjamin he would have to wait for Christmas to get it. When Benjamin got home, he asked for paper and pencil. He proceeded to draw a picture of these robots and label it “Got it M & S.” When I asked what it meant, he explained what had happened.
Great. So much for being finished with my shopping. I could hardly ask her to take it back and get something else. After all, Benjamin knew she would be giving it to him. I still had a few other odds and ends to pick up – does the shopping list never end? – so back to Wal-Mart I went, returning the gift I bought three weeks ago and picking out something else (another picture from the fridge.) Of course, since I was back in the store, I ended up seeing something else that I knew he would like, so I spent even more money.
Now my shopping really is finished, except for groceries, and Benjamin is busy counting the days until he will be able to play with Maxilos and Spinax.
Merry Christmas!
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