December 15, 2025
By Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey
I was rifling through the closet shelves in search of a winter scarf when I happened upon a happy stash of gifts that, judging by the dated receipt, were intended for Christmas 2023. Yes, I am one of those holiday preppers born to depression-era parents and so I tend to buy something when I see it lest I regret passing on it later on.
Even if it’s the middle of the summer. Especially if the price is right.
This year’s serendipitous find put me ahead of the game and the holiday gift-giving budget that has been culled since the “raising a family” and especially since we came of the age when we realized we do not really want for much material-wise. These days we’re in the process of unloading stuff in “Swedish Death Cleaning” fashion. That might sounds depressing but it’s really a gift of another sort if you really care about the people who will one day be cleaning up after you.
That, in turn, ranks us in the “difficult to buy for” genre.
The thing is, we are counting the days to the holiday, not because of the pageantry or the presents, but because we’re anticipating of the time we will be spending with loved ones.
A gift of another sort.
So if you’re in a conundrum about what to buy for people who seem to have enough, remember that time is most definitely of the essence and these days, most people could use a good one.
A day or evening out – whether taking in a community theatre or orchestral production, a movie and/or meal, a locally brewed ale, a a raised lass of wine, a shared conversation over a cup of tea or coffee, or an ice cream cone outing followed by a downtown stroll – all can go a long way to lifting spirits.
Lucky for us, there are several gift certificate options that can help keep the good times and the local $$ rolling. There are several events listed on the January 2025 Sneak Peek Calendar in the Diversions Section to check out, in fact.
Some of those options don’t have to cost anything but your time – which no matter your age – is often the best gift ever.
Go ahead and create your own gift certificate with the offer of accompaniment to a free concert or movie in the park, a local art show, a food festival, a poetry club meeting, or an art class held at the local library or art center, or perhaps a hike or sunset picnic at an area park.
It’s a multifaceted kind of gift that offers the promise of a lifted spirit while supporting our artists and the arts, our business owners, and our entrepreneurs and our neighbors in a way that might help sustain a local economy and thus, a well-nurtured community.
Just a thought.
Happy Holidays.
Now onward.
Peace – M
Be the first to comment