| Q. "I'm just getting my business going,
| |
| | room and Keesha never, ever tries to sit
|
| after being last off last year. So the
| |
| | on the furniture.DO send coffee for
|
| lasthing I want is a silly twenty-dollar
| |
| | caffeine fiends, wine for connoisseurs
|
| jokegift. A year ago, it would have been
| |
| | and Florida fruit baskets for the
|
| great. Now all I can think is, 'I could
| |
| | healthy-minded. My Seattle friends sent
|
| use a couple of twenty-dollar-bills right
| |
| | fresh-roasted beans one year. Mmm!DO
|
| now.'" Signed: New ScroogeA. Many of us
| |
| | respect boundaries. Some people want to
|
| have friends who are cutting back rather
| |
| | be alone on holidays, especially if
|
| than racing forward. Some may be stressed
| |
| | they're single, newly moved or mourning a
|
| out by cash flow crunches of a new
| |
| | loss. Keep it low-key: "If you don't want
|
| business. Others have experienced
| |
| | to come for dinner, come by for coffee
|
| personal losses. If they're feeling
| |
| | afterward-- if you feel like it. Don't
|
| scroogier than ever, we can
| |
| | bring a present. Do bring the dog."And
|
| understand.You don't have to limit your
| |
| | I'll share a secret. Just about every
|
| gifts to socks and underwear (although a
| |
| | single person I know welcomes a take-home
|
| good friend may welcome woolly socks from
| |
| | serving of holiday dinner. We always
|
| Eddie Bauer or a treat from Victoria's
| |
| | pretend it's for the cat. See my article
|
| Secret). So, by request, here are tips on
| |
| | on "being single on holidays."And what if
|
| combining fun and function for the
| |
| | you're the one who's cutting back? Maybe
|
| holiday season.DON'T send a free e-card!
| |
| | this is a tough year and you're not
|
| Many of those sites collect email
| |
| | feeling much holiday spirit. Maybe you
|
| addresses for their own nefarious uses.DO
| |
| | lost a friend or family member,
|
| send gift certificates: for a restaurant
| |
| | temporarily or permanently. Or you're
|
| -- even a pizza delivery service for
| |
| | getting over the flu.There are no easy
|
| amazon.com, and other online boutiques
| |
| | bromides. Some people create their own
|
| for an office supply house -- Staples,
| |
| | rituals. Some find comfort in the old
|
| Kinkos, OfficeMaxTip: A friend is moving?
| |
| | rituals they know so well. Do as much as
|
| Send her a gift certificate for a store
| |
| | you can, comfortably. Whenever I say, "I
|
| or restaurant in her new city. Send a
| |
| | just don't feel like it this year," I
|
| season ticket for theatre, ballet,
| |
| | usually wish I had -- one year later.One
|
| symphony or basketball -- get him out of
| |
| | tip: Write down your experiences,
|
| the house! (from my book, Making the Big
| |
| | feelings and wishes. Hide your writing
|
| Move)DO send gifts for pets. Catnip, pet
| |
| | for at least six months. A year from now
|
| beds, and gift certificates for grooming
| |
| | the world will look very, very different.
|
| all work well. I have one dog bed in each
| |
| |
|
