water tower


never again
 in
 any
 of our lives
 will
 we come across
 a date
 like
 this
 12/12/12

 pretty impressive

 not so impressive
 is the fact
 that
 I still havent
 settled on a photo
 for the holiday card 
I know 
I know 

lets change the subject
 have you
 done 
finished
 all
your
holiday shopping?

 we don't have children
 so Hanukkah means
light the candles
 take a photo
 have dinner 

we don't exchange
 Hanukkah gifts

 when
 I was a kid
 and
 we did
get
Hanukkah gifts 
we only
got
the one gift
 the first night

 I didnt feel cheated
 but
 I did wish
 we celebrated Christmas
 because
 it seemed to be more fun

 when I became a part of my friends'
extended family
 I got to help trim their tree
 we were a part of their Christmas celebration

 the last few years
our friends
 havent had
 the big celebrations
of the past
 I am hoping this year
 will be different
I am not getting my hopes up too high 

so
 if you celebrate Christmas
 is your shopping done?

I shop all year long
 if I see something
that I know
 someone
 on my list
 will love
 I buy it

 there's a pile
 of 
stuff 
things
 potential
presents
 waiting to be
sorted out
 wrapped
 labeled
 some will 
be 
shipped
 mailed
others will be hand delivered

the buying process
 is
 usually
 one for them 
one for me

sometimes 
the one for me
 ends up being for them

Toonman and I
 havent
 been exchanging gifts
 for the last few years

 I told him
 this year 
that
 I know 
my idea 
of what something should cost
 and
 his 
are
 far
 apart

 not agonizing
 over what to buy 
someone
 who doesn't need 
anything
 someone 
who is hard to buy for

 we're skipping that stress

funny story

I was at the hair salon last week 
after my cut and style
 I went to pay

 the receptionist said
 that will be
 (no, I am not putting the amounts in because Toonman reads my blog)
 $$$$$$

 I looked at her
with wide eyes:
 has his fee gone up?
 because the last time I was here
 it was $$$$

 she says
 did you get a keratin treatment?

 no, just a hair cut

 is your name Daryl?
 yes
 but 
I
 only
 had
 a hair cut

 oh
 she said
 there are two Daryls
 in the system
 your
 total
 is
 $$$$

 I said
 you know
 after hearing what the other Daryl will pay
 my bill
seems almost reasonable

she laughed