All my life I have heard it said: “You can’t take it with you.”
Then, of course, all my life I have also heard it said: “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Those are two entirely competing world views, and I certainly live my life by the former, occasionally to the chagrin of those who have wished I would be bit more saving. I remember well the time I bought the Swarovski chandelier on the Home Shopping Network, only to have my Chris roll his eyes when I told him.
“I bought it on the ‘easy pay’ plan,” I said hopefully.
“Easy for whom?” was his curt reply.
In addition to the cliches with which I started this musing, there is also his world view which I have heard so many times: “Balance in all things.”
But it’s Christmas. Surely this is a season for a bit of exuberance, just a few more holiday lights on the railings and the shutters, just one more glass of wine or cup of hot chocolate, just one more stocking stuffer for the children or your sweetheart. I can try, once again, to be more frugal in the New Year. Let’s see. That will be 45 times at bat without getting past first base a single season.
If I’m honest, I have no real inclination to apologize or to change because, hey, you can’t take it with you. I would not trade anything in the world for the sheer amazement in young Emma’s eyes when she saw the Manhattan skyline for the first time last Christmas, or for hearing her sister Hannah laughing out loud in Madame Tussauds wax museum, way better than a fatter balance in our checking account.
I will always remember Little Arley ripping opening one package after the other — Disney princesses, magic wands, collectible Barbies, lace dresses. She was about 3 years old at the time, and I never once gave thought to what I could have saved.
What are fame and fortune except transient illusions, here today, gone tomorrow? Give me instead moments in time when I got to make someone’s life just a little better, and I don’t mean only with gifts of significant financial worth. Sometimes during the holidays I have been known to carry lipsticks or candy canes with me in the car and pass them through the drive-through window at McDonald’s. Often when Chris buys dog food there is a young homeless man with his best friend, his dog, crouched in front of the store. He can’t give them a million dollars, but he always comes out of the store with an extra bag of dog food and enough cash for a hot meal for the young man, no questions asked.
Whether you tend to celebrate Christ or Santa Claus more this season, it seems to me they would agree that it’s better to give than to receive — and to spread comfort and joy in the process.
Email reaches former Columbus resident David Creel at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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