Jamie Hilao

My family’s been big on Christmas as far as Christmas gatherings are concerned. Filipinos love any excuse to have a party, so every year my family has a big shindig at my mom’s house in Orland Park.

However, we’ve never exchanged extravagant Christmas gifts and written gift lists for each other. When I was young, this wasn’t a good thing. I remember being envious of friends who got the latest & greatest toys at Christmastime. And since I’m a December baby, I always got the shaft: I was often given dual “Christmas/Birthday” presents.

Now that I’m older, I realize that I’m glad my parents never emphasized the gift giving part. It seems that kids nowadays are spoiled rotten & are consumed with being a holiday consumer.

OK, so I am guilty of buying the children in my life holiday gifts… But it was surprising, albeit very ADORABLE, to receive this e-mail message from my cousin (note the items marked in bold as they were in the original e-mail):

Hey Manay Jamie Lou,

Here is my Christmas list. I only have three things in my list. Hope you enjoy it.

1) Digital Camera
2) Camcorder
3) Any type of electronics

Love, Katleya

Whoa! Times sure have changed. I think the nicest gift I got was a refurbished dollhouse. I immediately called my brother and sister, and they both told me this was my fault. Hmm, maybe they have a point. My humbler younger cousins in SoCal asked for books, but I guess I’ve never spoiled them the way I’ve spoiled Katleya & her brother Meggy. Check out this e-mail request I received from one of them:

Hi Tita Jamie! Here is what Francis and Patrick want for Christmas…

Francis- Spy X: Hide and Seek

Patrick- Horace Splatty The Cupcaked Crusader
(This is a book. Patrick already has the fourth book.)

Love,
Maristel

I guess I’ll have to figure out what I can afford. My sister says that I can give money to help Katleya save up for a nice camera since the one she wants is almost 5 bills.

Only 26 more Shopping Days left. The frenzy begins.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 28th, 2005 at 1:39 pm and is filed under Jamie, Family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.