Real Modern Man

We are roughly halfway through the "Season." You know, that time between Thanksgiving and Valentine's day when relationships become filled with wonderful, powerful emotions! Also known as the Dark Days for single men (and women, but for different reasons).

In any case, it's Christmas! So, Merry Christmas!

Two important aspects (of many) to Christmas are gift giving and gift receiving. Many people are good at one or the other, but truly enjoying Christmas requires being good at both.

Gift giving

Most women already know this: buying Christmas gifts starts December 26th! Yep. Buying for Christmas is a year-long activity. When you have such a mind set, you will never, ever be in a bind for finding appropriate gifts. Your shopping will be done by Thanksgiving (end of November for non-USians), and you will be free of the panic associated with last minute excursions to that alien wasteland AKA The Shopping Mall.

Furthermore, not just possible future gifts, but wrapping paper, cards, ornaments, the whole nine yards, on sale at clearance prices. Last year, a trip to Target a couple of days after Christmas netted a large bag of bows and 2-3 years worth of gift wrapping paper. All I had to buy this year was some extra scotch tape. Contrast this to the nervous, twitchy "dad dude" in line at Long's Drugs with 3 Christmas stockings late afternoon Christmas Eve! Wanna bet he's divorced (no wedding band, I checked), without custody of his children? I wouldn't bet against it.

Gift receiving

Let's face it: most women usually do pretty well by their men, but having your heart set on what you really want (e.g., the Swedish Bikini Team, or maybe a new bait casting reel) is a recipe for hurt feelings and disaster.

Instead, use the gifts you are given as insight into her thoughts and personality.

For example, my girlfriend gave me... hrm... never mind, shouldn't use this example (pity, that). Let's just say I acted on that one right after we opened presents... This one is better: she gave me a nice pair of Ugg fleece lined slippers shoes. Uggs are definitely congruent (I surf), and these slippers definitely upgrade my wardrobe. Now, there probably isn't any real "hint" here, but if there were, it would be "Dave, your stuff is getting tatty." But I already know that, and even purchased a new shirt when I was out shopping. Most women appreciate a stylish, well-dressed man, and developing style costs time more than it costs money. Any man can make the effort.

Mission: Birthday

Gentlemen, Christmas presents the perfect opportunity to implement your new gift giving and shopping strategy. The days between Christmas and New Years are typically slack no matter where one works. And the days after Christmas are intensely active shopping days. An enormous amount of merchandise is steeply discounted. Your wife or girlfriend *will* be going shopping. Go with her. Or go shopping yourself while she is out. Your mission is to select a birthday gift for her. Now is the perfect time. And yes, I already have something for my girlfriend's birthday... already wrapped too! If you're currently single, build a good habit and get something for your mother.