What exactly is it about Christmas shopping that we dislike so much?

Mall madness

I say dislike because no one appears to be enjoying themselves so if they are having a good time, they’re doing so deep down inside and wearing a pretty convincing “p** off” mask.

Are we annoyed with ourselves because we’ve waited until the pressure of time has landed like a fridge on our delicate pre-Christmas schedule?

Is it the end-of-year-can’t-take-one-more-inconvenience nerves that really truly need isolation and relaxation, not millions of equally stressed shoppers who we don’t know from Adam and therefore do not know the URGENCY of our particular situation?

Is it the swollen carparks that bring out the beast within as we find ourselves cursing some poor solo Mum with 10 kids because she swung into a free space when we had our indicator on?

Is it the fact that despite thinking about it for what seems like hours, we still don’t have the foggiest what to buy for Uncle Dave and he’s starting to look like a right pain in the neck and why should we be forced to buy him something for the sake of it anyway when he clearly doesn’t need anything?

Is it the budget that has had to come in several belt-notches this year while the corresponding creativity levels viz-a-viz presents just hasn’t performed, and now we are thinking enviously of those rich folks who do all their shopping at Smith & Caugheys as we trudge aimlessly around K-Mart?

Christmas morning present opening smiles

It’s all these things isn’t it.  And in the whole hideous affair, we totally lose sight of the fact

that we are investing in Christmas fun.  It’s all about seeing a laugh of delight or a knowing smile (or even a wry grimace) on Christmas Day as the recipient opens that gift and we finally receive the reward for all that anguish.

Bizarre really.  Gift-buying is usually not linked with pain and suffering.  Only at Christmas.

It’s 23 December today so most of you will have already completed the mission.  But for those of you who are facing the biggest of all shopping challenges – the Christmas Eve Gauntlet – try and project yourself to the Christmas Day part, grab an egg-nogg latte, put on a smile and deck the malls with boughs of jolly… even the odd twig would do.

Merry Christmas shoppers.