I Got a Gift Card for Christmas

We grew up hearing "don't believe everything you hear". Then, we learned "don't believe everything you read". These days, we can't even believe everything we see. I just hope that we are passing on these lessons AND keeping them in mind, because unfortunately we need to remind ourselves every day. Especially today, when we have -I can't even count how many - cable channels, "news" shows, advice forums from , oh yeah right, "qualified" personalities, and radio shows that give microphones to - I swear many of them couldn't score double digits on an IQ test - just about anyone. They all repeat each other, try to out-do each other, out-yell each other and sensationalize any story to shock and attract the public.

Where is the responsibility?? Is anyone taking into consideration the repercussions of airing what amounts to no more than a bunch of sound-bites strung together for effect.

This holiday/shopping season the media in my part of the world keep repeating a half-truth that, if enough people believe, can only negatively effect our economy. They are reporting that retailers are disappointed with the growth of this years sales. I would think "growth" would be important in and of itself. But here is what they are NOT telling you. Leaving aside internet shopping, which is still spending (hello), no one is counting gift cards.

GIFT CARDS !!

Are you kidding me??

How many millions of dollars are retailers spending on advertising the promotion of gift cards?
For years now, they have been pushing us to avoid returns, and buy, buy, buy gift cards so that our loved ones can get exactly what they want.

According to the Council of Shopping Centers:

Sales of gift cards have grown 25% for EACH of the past 4 years across ALL retail categories.

Gift cards count for 10 to 13% of the total volume of retail sales.

The National Retail Federation puts this years sales of gift cards at 26.3 Billion dollars.

26.3 Billion $$$$$$$$. But they don't count that. Retailers don't count that. Again, I ask, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Gift card sales are better than merchandise sales. Why? Because you can't return them and spend the money somewhere else. Did you ever try to get cash back from a gift card? Can't be done. ( Maybe, you could try to scalp it in the parking lot. You might not get full value, but the store won't lose a dime.)

One other thing for your consideration while you listen to your favorite abbreviated, news-type, media source...... what are they really saying? The day-after-Christmas report on stock market trading warned that Target was "going to" release the "fact" that they were "disappointed" with this season's sales figures. This was expected to drive down the market. BUT, basically, what they were really saying was, "Hey the 20-something we hired to head-up the purchasing department has taste up-his-ass and no one is buying the cheap, hooker-type outfits we are pushing". (Sorry, no offense meant to the hard working prostitutes out there. Although, they must find it much easier to buy clothes now. Also, no offense meant to the perfectly capable 20-somethings out there with good taste.) And, "Hey you know the public might be on to us and the fact that we're buying these 10 cent pieces of crap from China (keep your fingers crossed that they don't break until after they leave the parking lot) and marking them up to $4.99".

Americans are smart. Tell us the truth. The whole truth. We can take it.

How does the song go...?

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

I love everything about it.

I love the snow, even though I am no longer a kid and I know that whatever falls has to get shoveled up.

I love the Spirit of Christmas. That feeling (while not necessarily religious, comes with the season), that gives us the freedom to be kind in small ways to friends and strangers alike. The generous expressions of love that don't have to cost very much at all. Of course, we don't have to wait for Christmas. But, come on, we know that if you smiled and greeted strangers while holding open a door for them in July people would think you were a crazy person. I've tried it - most people look at you funny. Who cares? The older I get, the less I care about what other people think. (Often to my kids' chagrin.)

I love the decorations and the lights. The white fairy lights on my own Christmas tree, the smell of fresh pine boughs, and all the displays of color and holly everywhere you look. Okay - I'll admit - I hate them in October, I don't like them in November, but come December, I do love them all.

I love to see the expressions on my daughters' faces on Christmas morning. Did you ever notice that no matter how old your kids get, on Christmas morning they still look like the little children they once were. I love being able to make them happy. If only it were in my power to do that every day. And I feel good about actually stopping to take the time to count my blessings, and grateful to remember that they are many.

And while I am NOT a fan of New Year's Eve, of "Auld Lang Syne", or the seemingly, ever quickening, passing of time, I do enjoy the eternal hope a New Year brings.

Welcome

The premise for this blog is fairly simple. I believe ranting is important. For several reasons. A rant is a vent. It is an expression of feeling and/or thinking and that should be expressed, not bottled up inside. It is also evidence of passion, of beliefs or convictions. There are too many people out there with too little of these. And perhaps, more importantly, it provides opportunity for someone else to rant back at you with a different opinion, a different take, another point of view. And there in lies - hopefully, idealistically - communication, education, and awareness. That can only result in good.

Despite what some people may think, rants do not have to be negative. They do not have to be serious or philosophical. Just an honest thought or an observation of one's world.

I know my family believes that if I have this space to vent in they will no longer have to listen to my ranting. Little do they know, that now they will, not only have to hear it, but they will have to read about it as well.

So I hope to rant, in the coming days and months, about things that confound me, infuriate me, surprise me, amuse me and gratify me. About things that make me smile and things that make me shake my head.

You may agree, or not...be amused...or not. But that's okay, because it's just me.