Earlier this evening, I tore into a Thanksgiving Eve feast with a bunch of scruffy gringos in Costa Rica. Then I co-hosted our Thanksgiving Eve talent show, wearing a shimmery light blue gown from the Ropa Americana thrift store that may have had a previous life as a bridesmaid dress or 1990s formal. (Photo above, of Paint Chip Turkeys (not for human consumption) is from intellidance. The photo below is of our Costa Rica Center Thanksgiving Eve feast, prepared by Chef Mario).
There’s a sweetness to Thanksgiving not limited to the marshmallow hats worn by sweet potatoes. Although I miss my family on Thanksgiving, there’s the hope that I’ll see them soonish for Christmas.
But Christmas stretches too far and lasts too long.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Christmas, especially the baby Jesus. But I can’t deal with weeks of Christmas cheer or upbeat holiday music chirping away in every store.
Remember the 12 days of Christmas? They start on December 25th and last until Epiphany, January 6. The rest of December is Advent, a season of preparation and introspection not unlike Lent. Some liturgical hardcore Christians I know don’t put up their Christmas tree until the 25th so they give Advent enough breathing room.
And then there’s the pressure of shopping. My family and I have simplified gift giving for the last few years by drawing names and only buying for that person. The suspense is part of the fun.
In my weeks in Costa Rica, I’ve been picking up little gifts and crafts along the way. Fortunately, I’m spending less time in stores here than I do in my default life. I do frequent the AutoMercado fancy supermarket, where I look forward to blissing out to muzak show tunes in the baking supplies aisle, pulling my little rolling basket with a tall handle, sipping my sample of Scotch (a perk of Saturday night shopping. Where are the Scotch ladies at my Spokane Costco, I ask you?)
So while I’ll sit out Black Friday, I am on the lookout for my unnamed family member’s gift. And someone special mentioned, when pressed, that he would like a bike pump and “a cool hand-drum or tambourine.” At the top of my list? A thirsty, light little towel (photo above of the MultiTowel Lite Large is from rei.com). They’d also make good gifts for fellow hitchhikers of the universe.