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A Director's
Chair: Little Things Matter Most
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by Carolyn Maroney
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This holiday season, why
not escape the hectic holiday pressure cooker for a while and get the
majority of your shopping done at our Co-op? I love shopping at the
Co-op, which is odd because I usually hate traditional “holiday”
shopping — especially this time of year with the crowds and endless
parade of crap that I can live well enough without. “What could drive
someone to buy a giant blow-up Santa on a motorcycle,” I ask myself as
a child screams like a loose steering belt, wailing in the petroleum
based, glitter sloughing Christmas decoration isle. One year I saw a
Statue of Liberty ornament made in China.
Beyond the plastic wreaths and polystyrene berries is a place that is
warm and welcoming and full of excellent gifts for everyone. Grab a
snack while you shop or sit down and make your list in our café
with a relaxing cup of hot cider. There’s no reason to go hungry while
concentrating on matching the right gifts to the people you’re shopping
for, you need your strength. The staff at our Co-op can give you some
excellent ideas and take care of any special orders you might have in
mind. One of the best gifts I ever gave my sister-in-law was a case of
her favorite juice that she cannot find in her town. She enjoyed it
long after the blow-up Santas and snow people where tucked away in her
neighbor’s garage. I really hate driving past a half-deflated Rudolph,
don’t you?
Our Co-op has been expanded to accommodate the thousands of people that
come through her doors on a daily basis. The holiday cards have arrived
as well as gift bags, which are a wonderful (and reusable) alternative
to landfill-bound wrapping paper. Personally I love to give people
books and our Coop has a wide selection with new titles arriving on a
consistent basis. I have become very conscientious about where I spend
my money. Who do I want to support, big chains or local businesses?
Local is my first choice, whenever possible, and our Co-op supports
fair trade and organic products. Money hard-earned should be well-spent
on gifts that give on many levels.
There are health and beauty products, herbs and spices, foodstuffs that
can be easily brought to holiday parties (cheeses, tasty cakes and
pies… gosh, I’m getting hungry). Let’s not forget about the ever
popular gift certificate. I got some of these for someone as a wedding
gift, and she loved them!
The cards at Co-op are amazing and they make perfect holders for gift
certificates. Everyone who receives one of these is delighted with it
and its message. People are more impressed when they flip the card and
see it’s made of recycled or repurposed materials. Usually cards are a
toss-away item but when a card comes from our Co-op people often hang
on to them. Something so small can brighten the days of someone you
care about long after the occasion has passed. After all, isn’t it the
little things that sometimes mean the most?
So when you think of getting someone a gift, think of what you know
they like, and you’ll probably find it at our Co-op. You will feel good
about the gift you choose and the person receiving it will know that
you care enough to indeed give the very best.
Oh — by the way — if you’re reading this, Honey, I also really like to
receive gifts from the Co-op. There are some really yummy peanut
chocolate clusters in the bulk isle, lots of lotions and potions in
Wellness/ HaBA, and fixings for the ultimate man-at-homemade meals you
could image.
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