Confessions of a 'Last Minute Shopper'.

Twenty-six years and counting. That's how long I've been a 'last minute shopper'. And I'm happy to report that, once again, despite driving my sweet spouse raving mad, I have proved the efficacy of my approach to Christmas gift buying.

Earlier this morning my spouse dropped me off at the mall saying: "I can't believe you insist on doing this every year! It's just crazy! What if you can't find what people want."

"Then I'll buy what they need," I said.

"Ugh," she emoted.

"Love you dear," I said, "be good for Mom kids, see you soon!"

List in hand, kid free and unrestrained by anybody's opinion on the merits of my choices I proceeded to wander the mall in a relaxed fashion. If a store or boutique was too busy: I simply avoided it. If I couldn't find the particular item on my list, I improvised. If the lady with crazy-eyes and an overflowing cart was intent on cutting me off, I put my elbows out. If a fellow shopper's eyes were kind, I smiled. If downcast, I empathized. If fiery, I ignored. If the cashier was rude, I hummed. If the price was too high, I refrained. If... if it made sense I bought; if it didn't, I did not. Three hours and thirty-three minutes later I emerged from the mall with 17 gifts (not Gift Cards!). I was done!

Arriving home via cab an hour ago I announced to one and all that I was done.

"Easy for you to say," my spouse who has been shopping for six weeks said.

"Yes, beauty, it easy for me to say. That's why I do it!" I replied smiling. And she laughed, ... and it is Christmas ... and it is simple.

Merry Christmas!

Recession, Depression & Drug Sales

Dec. 14 - Wal-Mart's chief executive said on Sunday he sees changes in the habits of the chain's customers as they contend with the recession, . . . . "In our pharmacy group, we have increases in prescription drugs, but not at the same rate it was," he said. "What we're seeing is an increase in self-treatment."

Don't know how I missed this last week? But it's a sign we Christmas shoppers should be worried! An increase in depressed and 'self-medicating' Wal-Mart customers roaming through the store's generic Big-Boxes seems likely to take all the fun out of shopping. It's also too bad for Wal-Mart that their growth in pharmaceutical sales is "not at the same rate it was".

Kinda makes one doubt the existence of Santa Claus during these hard times!

But Wal-Mart's CEO Lee Scott observed that an Obama plan to deal with the crisis was a great "opportunity" to get to get Health Care Reform moving in the right direction. Yeah, nothing like a new national program to get those drug sales up! As to whether or not the crisis was also an opportunity for Wal-Mart to give its employees "living wages" - CEO Scott said nothing.


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