Leave these items off your Xmas gift list
For kids, Santa Claus is a chubby, clever old man who somehow makes his way all over the world on Christmas Eve delivering toys to all the good little girls and boys.
Questions of Santa?s magical sleigh and how he?s able to make his way to all of those homes often circulate this time of year. The one big magical feat which has always amazed me is how he slips that chubby belly down through my skinny chimney. I guess that?s just one of the things which makes Christmas so magical and mysterious.
With Christmas only 11 days away, kids are going to bed each night filled with excitement and dreams of that special present that will be waiting under the tree on Christmas morning. I?m no kid anymore, but I still feel the same way.
As most of you know, each year around this time I try to throw out a few suggestions to help Santa out on those last-minute gifts. There?s a wide range of presents out there for that special athlete in your life, some good and some not so good.
I was looking through a magazine just the other day and found several items I would put on my ?not so good? list.
The first was a shot glass chess and checkers set. Basically it was a checker board with shot glasses on it. I guess the idea was every time you lose a player then you have to turn up a shot. No thanks.
The next thing on my list would be trick golf balls. Sure, all you people out there that don?t play golf may think this is a great gift. But let me just say it?s hard enough to hit a good ball without worrying about it exploding in your face. Please do us hackers a favor and leave it off your list. Exploding balls aren?t that funny.
Now here?s one I thought I might like, a hole-in-one display case. It had room enough to display four balls. But who am I kidding? I?ve been playing golf for 30-something years, and haven?t found the need for one yet. Although, there are a few folks around these parts that seem to have a need for a display case. Over the past several years I?ve seen several hole-in-ones come across my desk, and a few of them are repeats. I guess it?s better to be lucky than good.
NASCAR boxer shorts are a no-go, too. I like NASCAR, but I?m not going to wear my favorite driver around my waist. Wearing Jeff Gordon underwear is taking things just a bit too far.
There are always several people out there who are very difficult to buy for. So may I suggest a pair of tickets to their favorite sporting event and team. Tickets for the Titans, the Vols or Lady Vols basketball games or even the Nashville Predators would sure to please anyone.
Maybe a membership to the gym or pass to the Civic Center weight room. That?s a great way to get that New Year?s resolution started.
The older I get, the harder it is for my family to buy me gifts. It?s not that I want more, in fact I want less, and if I do have something in mind, it?s something I had rather pick out myself. I don?t have everything nor do I want everything, I?m just more into things I can actually use. But I?m still grateful for anything Santa happens to bring my way.
Just remember things don?t have to be expensive to put a smile on someone?s face. I enjoy giving more than receiving and hopefully the joy of giving will spread across the county this Christmas season.