Christmas Shopping

I continually find myself caught off guard by the collision of my expectations and the reality of what I end up experiencing. After bracing myself for a treacherous trip to the mall to finish up my last minute Christmas shopping, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my trip! To think that three days before Christmas I was able to leave the mall smiling…and I actually accomplished the shopping that I needed to finish! I think it had something to do with the significant sales that greeted me in every store. It made shopping for my loved ones that much more enjoyable (I mean, come on, who doesn’t like a good discount?!). My favorite moment was when I took a break to have a hot pretzel and a diet coke and was able to watch all of the children lining up for Santa Claus. There was an even split between those who were really excited and couldn’t wait to tell Santa what they wanted and those who were absolutely terrified. The best was when I was able to spot the children whose parents had made the trip specifically to visit Santa, their children dressed in matching outfits with bows in their hair and shiny, patent-leather shoes on their tiny feet. How excited they all must be for Friday night, when Santa and his reindeer will pay them a visit. These same children who cried at Santa’s feet will be waiting in anxious anticipation for his visit because honestly, it’s much easier when you don’t have to actually come face-to-face with the legend himself but can still enjoy the treats he leaves behind.