We are all too old and particular to need or want other people to do our shopping. But, Xmas still kind of demands some kind of gift exchange. We can’t help ourselves. It’s pretty hilarious when a bunch of adults are trying to sneak around and put things in multiple stockings without being seen.
Our other way of gift giving has become playing Dirty Santa. After an unfortunate round with his own family, my BIL has instituted a one-steal-only rule and, with 12 or 13 participants, it keeps us from going into the next day.
If you don’t know the game, here are the rules:
- Everyone brings a single gift that should be fun for at least one (preferably more) other member of the group. Not something like “Sis wants this particular pair of earrings”. More like “I really love this book and I think at least 3 of my family might like to read it.”
- We set a maximum price at $50. It doesn’t have to be that much. But, that’s to keep stuff from getting out of hand and anyone from feeling stressed about extravagant expectations. A $5 joke gift that cracks us all up is perfectly acceptable.
- All gifts are wrapped with no name on the label.
- Gifts go in a big pile.
- Everyone draws a number.
- Person 1 picks a gift and opens it. Everyone expresses delight or makes a joke or whatever.
- Person 2 either picks a gift or takes the gift Person 1 has already unwrapped and Person 1 opens another package. In my family, if their first gift was taken, Person 1 is now safe from stealing.
- Person 3 either picks an unopened gift or takes a previously opened gift and that person opens another package.
- Continue until everything is unwrapped.
- You only have to give up a gift once. If your first gift is taken, your second gift is safe.
- A single gift may be taken by multiple people. But, no one ends up being the solitary unwrapper. At most, some of us open 2 gifts. And some of us never actually open one. But, those people knew what we were choosing.
One year, an excellent travel bag and a bottle of bourbon were each “stolen” 3 or 4 times.
This year, my sister has requested that those of us who are creative contribute something we’ve made. So, Chuck is bringing a framed photo. My BIL, who is a woodworker, is making something (probably a mirror in a frame of especially lovely wood). I think my nephew’s GF is knitting something. I was given a significant look when I was seen crocheting an infinity scarf for a friend and made to know that I am included in that group.
I found some unplyed felted Peruvian merino wool yarn at the the Hillsborough Yarn Store that’s gorgeous and cost me $25. But, there was only 1 skein in that particular color combinaton and I have never worked with this stuff before. Even if there had been a second skein, I have no clue how to join them gracefully.
There’s not enough for an infinity scarf. And my count was off a couple of times so it became a trapezoid. I thought a cowl might work. But, the pattern that I tried flipped both times I started it, turning into a Möbius strip. I think I’ve ripped it and started over 7 times.
I finally made a muffler that will cross their chest and go down into their coat. It won’t wrap around their neck without a pin to hold it.
My BIL was asking his wife about price vs value and talking about how much more expensive his gift would be than $50 if you count his time, etc. He was mostly bitching about having a limit on generosity. But, if he brings it up on Xmas day, I’m going to tell him that’s a $600 dollar muffler and he needs to shut up.
My finished product.
I am the Audience 