Image Up Advertising & Design

Our Yucaipa December 2014

Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/420708

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 1 of 15

For this issue of Our Yucaipa, we focused on shopping local, which made me think of gift giving, and getting, in general. There are a few Christmas gifts that made a lasting impact on me. My parents divorced when I was seven and mom moved me and my sister from Seal Beach to Omaha. It was hard being away from my dad that first Christmas. I remember the gift he sent like it was yesterday - AM headphones. Well, they were more like AM earmuffs. They were gray and heavy with large knobs on the side to change stations and adjust the volume and a long antennae rising six inches above my head. I think I sustained some neck damage from wearing them. My ears would get hot and sweaty after about 30 minutes and I'd have to take them off to get some air. But they were from my dad and I cherished them. I wore them all the time, listening to scratchy disco music and 50s oldies. The next year, my sister Piper opened her gift from our dad and revealed sleek yellow headphones. She slowly pulled them out of the box and examined them. "AM and FM?" she said with wonder, then put them on her head and looked up, smiling at me. I felt betrayed. AM and FM? The message from our father was clear — he loved Piper more. "AM and FM?!?" I said, my voice rising. "AM AND FM?!? AM AND FM?!?" I screamed and ran out of the room. Our mom, who was suppressing laughter, yelled for me to come back. "No! I'm done with Christmas!" I shouted from the dining room. "Who's birthday is it anyway?" she shouted back. This stopped me cold. What kind of question was that? I just learned that my father hates me and she wants to know about birthdays? I wracked my brain. "Uncle Billy?" I asked, although I knew his birthday was Christmas Eve. He was the only person I could think of with a December birthday. "JESUS!" my mom yelled. "Ohhhhh," I said. It wasn't about me or the crystal clear message that Piper was Dad's favorite. The reason for the season was to celebrate the birth of Christ. Duh. I reluctantly returned to the family room and stewed quietly while Piper swayed to what was obviously superior FM music. When I was 12, my mom and her boyfriend assembled a bike for my big Christmas morning gift. Mom read the instructions. "Take frame out of box and lean against wall." Bill, the boyfriend, took the frame out of the box, set it down on the carpet, then walked over to the wall and leaned against it. Mom fell over laughing and my bike's assemblage went downhill from there. Surprisingly, it held together for almost three years. One morning during my sophomore year, I was riding to school and the left pedal sheared off and sliced across my leg, opening a gash that required stitches. I wasn't surprised. In fact, I had expected that to happen much sooner. When I was 16, I was obsessed with Prince's Purple Rain album. Every time someone asked what I wanted for Christmas, I responded, "Purple Rain." That year, I got five Purple Rain albums. Nothing else. Lesson learned: vary your Christmas requests. I am a terrible gift giver. It's not that my gifts suck, I just can't stand suspense. I bought my Aunt Cindi towels early in December one year and when I saw her, I said, "I am so excited about Christmas! I got you the best gift. Towels. I got you towels. Here." That's why I wait until the last minute to shop and why everyone gets scratcher tickets. This year I already know where I'm getting goodies right here in town. I encourage you to take advantage of the discounts some local businesses are offering and shop local. I also encourage you, and remind myself, to remember to breathe and not let the stress of the holidays overshadow the reason for the season. Someone very important was born on this day and left a legacy of amazing and inspiring lessons. However you celebrate Christmas, I wish you and yours the very best, most memorable day of the year. And if you get someone a bike, please get it assembled by professionals. 2 OUR YUCAIPA | DECEMBER 2014 ~ Courtney Christmas Gift Scars Me and Piper before the headphone wars tore us apart

Articles in this issue

view archives of Image Up Advertising & Design - Our Yucaipa December 2014