... get to be December so soon? Wow! I actually purchased decorated holiday paper for sending out seasonal greetings last week right after Thanksgiving. A first for me, the person who is usually scrambling around, visiting numerous office supply stores searching for paper with a suitable edging/theme to copy the composed epistle of events from the year. This year will be more difficult, challenging than in the past, with events that are really not the sort one would normally put in a year end summation of cheery events designed to evoke smiles and amusement from readers.
I've been thinking for some time, even before getting to the store to pick and purchase the paper - how to approach sharing the events of the past eleven months. Pondering the best way to put into words some things that are still difficult to even think, much less commit to print, and leave to posterity in an annual summary of high points for consumption and reflection. There has been plenty of good stuff, lots of hilarity, but also much of the sort that causes reflection on the temporary bonds that hold us here on this planet.
About going to the store for the paper: it had to be purchased in November because the rewards points/store credit expired on the last day of the month. Pretty aggravating to get a gift that has a short life span, then it vanishes into a black hole. The thought occurred that maybe the office supply/chain drug store/retail outlet should not be so generous: if there was no reward for shopping we'd not feel the inclination to have any allegiance. But if they were not so determined to lure me back to their business by offering rewards for dollars spent, I would not be tricked into returning with a sense of urgency to spend my invisible bucks before the expiration date.
The Man Who Lives Here took himself to the store to purchase a new printer for the computer, after we finally reluctantly admitted defeat with repairing one that kicked the bucket. Which gave him a nice big fact store credit for $24. Even though everything in the store is overpriced, that amount enticed me into trying to find something to purchase to use the the funds before Nov. 30. Plus I had purchased several ink cartridges for that obstinate, disagreeable printer at the suggestion of repair guy who seemed to think it just needed a refill. Giving me a store credit for $6.
The effort devoted to trying to combine those two amounts for one purchase was exhausting as well as a monumental waste of time. Because the funds were in two different accounts: Never The Twain Shall Meet. Not even when you call customer service and spend thirty minutes being on hold, then explaining repeatedly. I am convinced the entire purpose of voice mail and 'hold' is to wear you down, make you admit defeat, give up the fight. The toll-free customer-service team certainly won that round.
I finally just gave up, left the store and went home with a long confusing, convoluted, eventually entertaining story to tell. But in another sense: I won. When I went back several days later with a different plan of attack, I got a case of (free) paper to donate to a non profit org. I support with my time. Plus, in a separate purchase: the pack of holiday design paper to use for Christmas letter. The cashier would not, could not combine the two different rewards to use for one purchase - but determined Me got the full value. In fact, all I paid for the box of copy paper donated was tax!
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