<DrumBeat: December 25, 2007The Oil DrumDrumBeat: December 26, 2007>

52 comments on The Oil of Christmas Future....

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Leanan on December 25, 2007 - 12:06pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My mother taught me to appreciate things that were handmade.

Looking back, I suspect it was at least partly because we didn't have a lot of money. She made all my clothes, and often a lot of my Christmas presents, too, and it was for financial reasons. I remember being very proud of our Christmas tree, which had all homemade ornaments (many made by me and my sister).

It was a little weird going back home and finding mom had bought a bunch of mass-produced items for the tree. Tinsel, lights, and a bunch of department store ornaments. That was when I realized that she had really wanted a tree like everyone else had; the "homemade is better" line was to made me feel better because we couldn't afford it. LOL!

The extended family never appreciated anything homemade. I think it's because they were "recently poor." They never had any "store-bought" things when they were growing up; homemade was associated with poverty. (My parents are the most educated in each of their respective families...which meant we were the poorest.)

The funny thing is, the next generation (my generation, now grown up) has a lot more appreciation for homemade. Their parents always made sure they had store-bought cakes for their birthdays; no tacky homemade for their kids. But my cousin asked my mom to bake her wedding cake, even though she can easily afford "store-bought."

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Nate Hagens on December 25, 2007 - 12:21pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My father is wealthy by US standards (he was surgeon, now retired). But he grew up dirt poor - one of 8 children - he tells me stories of how they each got ONE present for christmas, total. And how everyday they had oatmeal for breakfast and how Granpa (his dad), would try and 'mix it up' a bit, by making each kids oatmeal into different shapes, like volcanos and such. That tiny effort must have had a large impact because he never tires of telling that story....

So he has always been against 'consumer christmas', though his decisions have usually been trumped by my generous mother. My bro' and I grew up with 'piles' under the tree...This year tho, given my 'reticence', she sent me some canned oysters, a vegetable brush, and a tiny stocking filled with bubble gum that is supposed to be coal.

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earldaily on December 25, 2007 - 12:31pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My experience is similar.
Lots of beans for diner, homemade shirts, when it was raining or snowing I would put on socks, then plastic bread bags, then my worn out shoes. I had a great time. We were poor, but the kicker, and imo the real difference with today is, my mom was able to stay home and take care of us.

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Leanan on December 25, 2007 - 12:56pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

My mom couldn't. The cost of living is so high in Hawaii that two parents both working has been the standard forever. We'd have been even poorer if mom didn't work.

She was a teacher, which meant she was home for us a lot more than other kids' moms. But still...it's amazing she did all she did for us. She baked all our bread, sewed all our clothes (during the summer, when school was out), shopped, cooked, kept the house spotless...and worked. I didn't appreciate how hard that was until I was out on my own.

I did thrive as a latchkey kid, I must say. Not all kids would, but I had a wide streak of independence, and really enjoyed being home alone.

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hightrekker on December 25, 2007 - 1:36pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Leanan--
I also always had three jobs when living in Maui, and had to be very creative to live. My parents were also teachers. I have a house in Kula, but live on the Mainland now.
I quit doing christmas years ago, and friends and family finally "got it" after some years, and it has slowly disappeared from my life.
The only present I gave today was a beautiful Chanterelle Mushroom found on my morning walk to my beautiful wife.
Happy Newton's Birthday!

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alexgouk on December 25, 2007 - 4:53pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Being brought up in the UK during WW2 meant there were not a lot of presents for anyone, I remember a toy Spitfire made of wood, some books and chocolate, Food ration coupons were horded so that some luxurious extra like tinned fruit could be afforded. Streamers were home made and a tree was decorated with baubles jealously guarded from peacetime,
And yet no sense of being deprived, great excitement with relatives visiting and the front parlour usually cold and damp now filled with decorations, the tree, and a coal fire.
Very happy memories, but very little money around or spent,
Now the whole orgy of consumerism is so sickening I go into Scrooge mode and we hole up with a log fire and something good to read,
Its been a very happy one this year, friends visiting and a quiet time
I hope that you all have one as good

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hardhat on December 26, 2007 - 1:12am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Even though I could afford it now, the pure consumerism of the season sickens me. Halloween hasn't even gotten over with before the endless stream of people urging me to "Make This the Perfect Christmas" starts up.

The only thing I want to do is go hole up with friends, go to Church, enjoy meals together, go fishing - on a rowboat - fishing pole optional. If we catch anything, hang around and let's prepare it or bring 'em to the kind of restaurant which will prepare it and serve it to us.

The very last thing I want my friends to do is buy me anything. By golly, if I wanted the thing, I would have had it by now. My friends are aware that anything they get me is just a burden to me, as now I have to keep that white elephant around just so I don't hurt anyone's feelings - but left to my own devices, its something I would give away at a garage sale just because its something nice that I have no use at all for.

Like a spoiled cat, I only want the good stuff. Anyone can give me the gift of a car, watch, shirt, whatever. Then there are those other things which only one person in this whole world can give. Special things - like the memory of a shared sunset. Or shared laughter. There is nothing in any store that can even come close to this kind of treasure. I don't have a lot of material things, but I have enough - that's all I need.

Steve

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BrianT on December 25, 2007 - 6:04pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hi Leanan: Merry Christmas. I am spending a few months in Honolulu and I had heard about the high cost of living. To my surprise, almost everything is more expensive in Toronto (RE is about the same-maybe slightly less in Toronto). The last time I was here the Cdn dollar was around .65 so obviously that makes a big difference. Beautiful place (every part of Hawaii I`ve seen).

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