Bye bye

I'm writing this with my new toy: It's called a Netbook--a smaller version of a notebook computer. It's only two pounds and about nine inches by six. A dear little dinky thing with a pared down keyboard that is big enough to touch type on. If I'm doing a lot of writing, I'll attach an external keyboard and mouse but for now it's working fine.

I bought it, of course, because my laptop kept crashing. I think when they get to a certain age, any new software sends them into self destruct mode. So my new Acer One will be great for dragging around on tour without breaking my back, for whipping out on a plane without knocking my seatmate's drink into his lap and for being able to jot down ideas as they come to me. I spent extra on the long life battery so it should last me a whole SF to NY flight.

But what I wanted to comment on today was that the stores are like ghost towns. Nobody is shopping. And this isn't just the big ticket items, it's places like Target where I didn't have to wait in line at all at five thirty in the evening, which is usually  crazy. I even notice less people in the supermarkets. And as for the electronic stores--salespeople leap upon you from all sides as you step through the door.

Of course one salesperson did not endear himself to me when he showed me the computer and then added with smarmy smile, "It also comes in pink."

You lost me there, I said with equally smarmy smile

I can understand why people are hunkering down and not spending. The future is horribly uncertain for many people, with the stock market plunging and job layoffs coming every day. And I'm not sure what the answer is--certainly not handing us another six hundred and urging us to go out and spend! But I suspect it's going to be a grim Christmas for most retailers.  My daughter has decided to have a creative Christmas instead of an expensive one. She's going to build Mary Clare, aged 5, a stage on part of the carport. We spent a fun morning shopping at thrift stores for curtains, backdrops etc. She's going to build her son, aged nine, a science laboratory, stocking it with items for experiments and creating laminated cards with experiments on them. Total cost under twenty dollars per child, but destined for hours of fun.

So maybe changing our "put a Lexus under the tree" mentality is not such a bad thing after all.

www.rhysbowen.com

Comments

[Clare Langley-Hawthorne]

Sounds like lovely Christmas ideas to me. My boys would be happy if I gave them cardboard boxes, tape and markers and said -go ahead make a racing car! We'll be in Tucson for Christmas (and the boys birthday which is Christmas Eve) so I'm hoping for a low key family Christmas too.

[Debbi Vaughn]

Rhys: I love your keen observation skills. The encounter with the pink computer resonnates in me. I have the same aversion to ruffles and bows. What makes people think we all crave Barbie lifestyles. Equally keen is your commentary on Christmas. Your daughter is teaching her children the deeper meaning of Christmas. Well done!

[Camille Minichino]

Terrific idea, Rhys! I'm sure your daughter will also encourage Mary Clare to use the lab and her brother to join her on stage!

Then maybe someday boys will stop thinking girls have to have pink.

[Joanna Campbell Slan]

Rhys, I think I found the "spot" where all the shoppers are: Goodwill. I went there yesterday to buy a wool sweater to felt. (You wash it in hot, hot water until it shrinks and becomes felt. Then you can cut it for projects and it won't ravel.) The place was jam-packed. I asked the clerk and she confirmed. So "thrift-shopping" is the new cool activity here in the 'burbs.

[Rhys Bowen]

Personally I love thrift store browsing and garage sales (ever since my daughter and I found 2 Kate Spade purses in a thirt store!)