wasteful

uck. I just saw a commercial for a jewelry store where a man watches a women open a gift from him. Each brightly wrapped box contains a smaller wrapped box. After about six elaborately wrapped boxes, the woman finally gets to a diamond necklace. I remember once S4's high school boyfriend did this for her and I thought it was so romantic (I was probably 6). I wished someone would do that for me someday. Now I just think it's disgusting to waste that much paper.

I really enjoy exchanging gifts though, especially at Christmas. My mom goes totally nuts; she buys a bajillion presents and gets all excited like a kid, singing and dancing around the house, which is probably why I like it so much. But when we were kids, we only really got new stuff at birthdays or Christmas because money was tight and there were so many of us (I am one of seven children). Even now, my mom buys a large portion of my clothes for me as birthday and Christmas gifts.

My pleasure in gift exchange has become somewhat tainted by my interest in non consumerism. I try to limit gift exchange with friends and coworkers because I end up buying stuff that I don't really have the money to buy and they don't really want.. That's fine, I guess, since it's the thought that counts. But it makes me feel so ick watching the tv ads this time of year and knowing all the energy and resources that will go to making and transporting all that stuff and I want to contribute to it as little as possible. So my best friend and I use the money we would have used to buy each other some kind of scented candle to go out together. We'd rather spend quality time together with no money guilt attached than have another picture frame.

Sorry this post was a little stream-of-consciousness. Arduous has spent much more time thinking about this issue, which got me thinking about holiday consumerism -- along with that commercial.