Shopping and The Perfect Gift

I love shopping. I love going through a store (any store) and imagining what I could do with things like, say, a cheese dome.

But what I have a hard time doing, these days, is actually buying anything. I'm so afraid of not buying the right thing, in terms of gifts, I mean, that I'll go shopping with intent to purchase, and wander the isles, searching in desperation for the perfect gift, only to leave disappointed two hours later, having talked myself out of every item I looked at.

It's even worse when I'm actually budgeting. (Just ask Kendall how much I don't like budgets.) Then I'm twice as worried about spending the money, only to find the true and everlastingly perfect gift later. Grrr.

So here it is, mid Novemeber, and the rest of the year on my calendar is black with the list of activities, and I have only purchased a handful of gifts.

And the worst thing is that we have a birthday coming up on Dec. 1st for Andrew. Talk about getting lost in the middle of the holidays. I have to keep reminding myself that it's coming up and I have to get on the ball. Of course, in his case I already know what the perfect gift is, and it seems to be the 'Tickle Me Elmo' of the 2008 Christmas season. The Tonka Bounce Back Racer. I watched him play with something similar at someone else's house for two hours, and knew that it would be perfect for him. It seems to be the perfect present for every other 3 year old boy in the world, as well. I have looked and looked, and the only place I can find it is Amazon or Ebay for twice, sometimes three times as much as I wanted to spend. At this rate I'll be lucky to find it in time for Christmas.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. But it still comes down to just one thing. I still love shopping, frustrations and all. ;-)