Secret Santa

Another holiday is buzzing its way through. In the E family, Christmas time has been a bit anti-climatic. I mean, the excitement that I once had for the holiday is gone (as it's been for everyone else in the family). Long gone.

Don't get me wrong. I definitely enjoy spending time with the family (minor dramas and all...*LOL*). It's just that the whole gift thing hasn't been that exciting in general.

For years now, my friend Sally has this tradition called "Secret Santa". There's various versions of this but Sally's version is that her two sisters, her mom, her aunt, and Sally put their names in a hat and they each have to pick a name from the hat. The rule is that a person can't pick their own name. If any of them chooses their own name, the whole process of picking names has to happen again. The idea is that nobody should know who anyone else has. There's also a set amount each should spent. The amount they set is $50.

I recently found out that Eugene has been doing the exact same tradition with his family.

It was then that the bells were ringing in my ear. "Secret Santa" would bring a bit of excitement back into the E holidays for all involved. So I explained the concept to my sisters first. They both were in. I figured my toughest sale would be on my Mom. I know she likes to get a little something for everyone. In fact, I think when Sally first told me about her family tradition a few years back, I may have mentioned it to my Mom, who poopooed the idea. I had a feeling with recent events (my younger sis Trina moving out, etc. ) that the time for "Secret Santa" was perfect. So I pitched it to both my parents, who both decided to go for it.

I sorta told my sisters about the limit amount but didn't mention anything about that to my parents. I figured just getting them to agree to the name picking was exciting enough. I may spring it on them next year.

So tonight Trina was supposed to come over so that the four of them could pick names and mail me the 5th (assuming a co-worker of Tasha's didn't pick my name, in which case, the whole process would have to happen again). But Trina was a no-show. So Tasha co-ordinated the event with my parents. Other than a minor issue my Mom had with a stranger picking for Trina and myself, which I was able to resolve, the name picking went without a hitch. So tomorrow Tasha will have a co-worker draw for Trina and myself. I'm hoping said co-worker picks different names so we don't have to do the process again...*LOL*. I have this image of the remaining names being Trina and myself and they choose in that order. I'll keep my fingers crossed that isn't the case.

If I had to rank the easiest to hardest to shop for, it'd be Trina, Dad, Tasha, and Mom. My Mom is a challenge because my options on things to get her are limited. She's very finicky about clothes, plus I wouldn't know what size to get. My Mom's not really technical so electronics are out. So she would be a challenge indeed. But I think I'd be up to it. After all, she's my Mom and I love her.

I look forward to starting this "new tradition" with the family. I'll keep you all posted.