Think locally when gift-shopping

Published 9:51 am Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Letter to the Editor

Black Friday is coming and I personally don’t have the energy to wake up at 2 a.m. and strap on my son’s football shoulder pads, purse and store flyers and fight to get those $5 pj’s or $10 cameras.

I just lose my Christmas spirit when I witness the madness. Some of my dear friends treat this as a sport, and more power to them. I am sleeping in and then decorating my house for the holidays.

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Someone sent me an e-mail this week that I thought made great sense. Part of it said to think outside the box when purchasing gifts this year. Why not buy things that are needs or local fun activities? Kids would love a membership to the local gym to do fun activities or movie theater, bowling, skating gift cards. I know my husband would love a gift card to a local building supply store to have an excuse to finish a project in the house or a gift card to a local restaurant so he can treat himself to some food better than my cooking (haha).

There are many services that I could list that any of us could purchase instead of something that isn’t made from our country. I love the Christmas in the City event and the others in our community. It brings us together and the businesses are so gracious to us, so let’s reciprocate and think of them first when purchasing our next gifts.

The last thing I want to have happen like every year since I became a mom and wife, is witnessing three months later the toys and gadgets I purchased for my kids or husband cast off and not used. I know that I am not alone because I have this conversation with other parents all the time.

By the way, Kelly (my husband) if you are reading this, I would like a gift certificate for my car to be cleaned and detailed and a date night.

Danielle Borgerson-Nesvold,

Austin