Such a lovely piece. I'm so down with this. The Big Bear trip memory is beautiful. And as you say, what's more valuable than the attention we give each other?
I've been trying to get us to buy less on Xmas for years, and we have a long way to go, but this year, our daughter bought us things in a second-hand shop that she painted lyrics on, and then the kids together made us a video about our dog as a joint gift. I gave my wife some ceramics I made for her. There was also store-bought stuff, though—too much of it.
Based on your piece, I proposed that next year, we only make things for each other (customized things from the local secondhand shop being acceptable). I don't think I could get them to go gift-free, but it's a start.
Oh I love this, and the gifts your family gave each other sound so thoughtful and beautiful. My daughter gave me ceramics she made as well!! I love photobooks, family recipe books and thoughtfully created calendars too!
I felt a bit Scrooge like this year and couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I think it’s this. All the waste. All the quite unnecessary things we insist on buying, wrapping and giving. It’s too much.
Thank you, Julie.
I am imagining a different holiday next year. Let them call me crazy.
And yesterday, I took one photo. Of my kids with the two dogs in front of the tree. I think it was the one time my hand touched my phone all day. That part feels right. Let’s stare at the actual faces here in the room. Forget the screens.
Brilliant. “ It’s too late now, since I’m writing this on Christmas morning and you probably already bought a bunch of trash that no one wants, but at day’s end, why don’t you try it? Start warming up your family to the idea that next year, you all forgo the gift-giving nonsense, and throw your phones off a cliff, dump all your booze in the toilet. Sit around the table and stare at each other so hard until you become sure you won’t ever forget the way every single person looks. That’s how you give love.”
A-freaking men. Preach.
Such a lovely piece. I'm so down with this. The Big Bear trip memory is beautiful. And as you say, what's more valuable than the attention we give each other?
I've been trying to get us to buy less on Xmas for years, and we have a long way to go, but this year, our daughter bought us things in a second-hand shop that she painted lyrics on, and then the kids together made us a video about our dog as a joint gift. I gave my wife some ceramics I made for her. There was also store-bought stuff, though—too much of it.
Based on your piece, I proposed that next year, we only make things for each other (customized things from the local secondhand shop being acceptable). I don't think I could get them to go gift-free, but it's a start.
Oh I love this, and the gifts your family gave each other sound so thoughtful and beautiful. My daughter gave me ceramics she made as well!! I love photobooks, family recipe books and thoughtfully created calendars too!
All such great ideas, thank you!
Merry Christmas love you!
Merry Christmas to you !!! Love you too!
I felt a bit Scrooge like this year and couldn’t quite put my finger on why. I think it’s this. All the waste. All the quite unnecessary things we insist on buying, wrapping and giving. It’s too much.
Thank you, Julie.
I am imagining a different holiday next year. Let them call me crazy.
And yesterday, I took one photo. Of my kids with the two dogs in front of the tree. I think it was the one time my hand touched my phone all day. That part feels right. Let’s stare at the actual faces here in the room. Forget the screens.
Love this, Julie. Merry Christmas and all the long, hard stares. ❤️
Brilliant. “ It’s too late now, since I’m writing this on Christmas morning and you probably already bought a bunch of trash that no one wants, but at day’s end, why don’t you try it? Start warming up your family to the idea that next year, you all forgo the gift-giving nonsense, and throw your phones off a cliff, dump all your booze in the toilet. Sit around the table and stare at each other so hard until you become sure you won’t ever forget the way every single person looks. That’s how you give love.”