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I’ve mostly given up on giving gifts for the holiday season.
Personally, I have everything I need, and most of what I want; the rest, I am being very careful to let into my life only after careful consideration. An intense bout of decluttering does nothing so well as point out how very much your stuff can own you if you stop paying attention.
I also am of the belief that while it’s lovely to receive and give gifts, it’s stressful for most people in the context of this season of high expectations. If you have kids, fine: you get a pass. The BF has gotten some lovely gifts for his kids, but even those are much more carefully chosen “big” gifts they’ve thought about for awhile: an iPod Touch (with an accompanying email address, which may be the biggest deal) and a “today my son, you are a man” gift to the World of Warcraft. (Ugh. But I liked enough weird stuff when I was their age that I can’t really say anything.)
What I want most around the holidays, or any days, these days, come to think of it, is time: to think, to noodle, to dream and rest and frolic and plan, and to do it all as the spirit moves me, solo or in partnership.
But I also want pears.
Big, fat, juicy, golden-with-a-blush-of-pink pears, each wrapped in its own foil jacket, nestled in its own green-tissue-papered cubby, delivered to my door from magic trees in Medford, Oregon by fruit elves. Okay, the USPS, by way of Harry & David.
We have given these pears to each other in my family for, well, I forget. Long enough that it’s unthinkable to give up the tradition. I may have skipped a year right after the Great Giver of Pears, my dad, passed on to that pear orchard in the sky, but it just ain’t a holiday without those ungodly delicious, indescribably glorious, HEAVY pieces of What Heaven Must Taste Like.
Today (Friday, December 18) is the last day you can get free Christmas delivery on your Harry & David purchases. I suggest you jump on it while you can.
Ho ho ho.
And you’re welcome.
xxx
c
I LOVE Harry and David pears and gift baskets. I’ve been giving one to my best friend for Christmas for a couple of years now and she loves them as much as I do. Fantastic recommendation!
Harry & David rocks. My aunt sent me a random easter gift when I was living in SF years ago, thousands of miles from any family (not that we celebrate easter per se). Anyway, it was a little H&D tower with a couple pears, apples, and a little block of cheese if I recall. The boxes were so awesome I still have & use them. And the food…. so soooo tasty.
Alas, I’ve already finished my shopping. Even remembered to try one of your affiliate links to amazon though I bought something else. Hopefully that worked.
These things are way better than you might expect.
Ha! Woodwork squeaks and out come the Harry & David freaks!
And Claire? Thank you thank you thank you. I appreciate you making this a merrier Christmas in every way!
I wound up clicking through and sending Riviera Pears to my aunt!
Will definitely buy NEXT year! Love all the “H & D Freaks” comments…closed the deal.
OMG I loooooove Harry and David! Esp. here in New York when the ideal gift is consumable and will never take up room in your apartment….
My *dream* is to one day receive the fruit of the month club as a gift…..hear that universe?????
I used to work at a place where some vendor would send us H&D every year and my co-workers didn’t really “get” it and I would be in (free) heaven. Sigh. I don’t work there any more. SIGH.
@Debbe – Your loved ones will love you all the more, believe me. As @brooklynchick notes, ain’t nothin’ better than a dee-licious gift that disappears when you’re done using it.
My mom sent me a Harry & David pear basket when I got into my first Quilt National (2005). If I’d known she was going to do that, I would’ve tried harder to get in sooner!
I know I am late to the party….but used your link to send a “tower” to my Dad for Christmas! Thanks!!!
@Andi – Those pears have motivated more goodwill and accomplishment than you can shake a stick at.
@Toni – Lucky Dad! And so we’re all clear on this, that’s not an affiliate link of any kind: just me, spreading goodwill and furthering accomplishment (see above!).