Christmas will soon be here.

     I’ve only done some minor shopping. I really don’t buy many gifts anymore. Dennis and I have resorted to money in a card, most of the time.

     I don’t know if you’ve realized, it’s gotten really hard to buy gifts for those of the younger generation nowadays. They either have it or they’re too grown up for it.

     I’ve noticed most of the time my grandkids are going for the high-tech devices or video games, which I know nothing about.

     I love to shop and welcome every opportunity to spend a few hours in the retail therapy mode. This year, I’ve spent more time online than actually in the stores just looking for gift ideas, to no avail.

     My granddaughter Karli gave me her wish list the other day and at the top of the list was a computer. The second item on the list was an iPad. She’s 8.

     She also had something on there called Stompeez, which after a little research, turned out to be souped-up house slippers in the shape of animals that open their mouths when you walk.

     The only normal item on her list was a bicycle, which she already has.

     What happened to baby dolls and board games?

     When I was her age, I couldn’t wait until late October early November. That’s when the Sears Christmas catalogue would arrive.

     I remember spending hours upon hours laying in the living-room floor of my grandparents’ home scouring the pages of toys.

     Microscopes and building sets and the shiny new bicycles and skates always made my mouth water and set my imagination to work. I wasn’t much for dolls at that age, but I was always fascinated at the dolls that could talk or move.

     Some years I even made a small list of items that I thought would be fun to receive, but I don’t recall if I ever got anything on the lists.

     As I got older and into my teen years, I loved looking at the colorful bedding sets and curtains, and wondered how my room would look with each ensemble. I also loved looking at the clothing, shoes and handbags.

     I really never made Santa Claus lists, except at school, and then I only did it because I was expected to. I don’t remember ever really believing in Santa Claus.

     Growing up, I was always taught the real reason for Christmas – and that was the baby Jesus. I passed this down to my children, as well. Although I think most of the grandkids believe in Santa or at least say they do, I have a feeling they know the truth.

     I always loved this time of year when I was a kid. Everywhere you looked it seemed festive.

     As a youngster, I nicknamed Monticello the “Jingle Bell” town, because at Christmastime they would always hang giant red bell decorations from their telephone poles in downtown.

     The hanging of Christmas decorations downtown here in Brookhaven has always been a sign that Christmas was just around the corner. It still is.

     This time of year at church, the teachings for children are usually about the events that led up to the birth of Jesus. I was always fascinated by the stories of the wise men and the bright star above Bethlehem, and especially the baby that lay in a manger.

     One year I even got to play an angel in a church Christmas production, complete with angel wings, which were wire coat hangers covered with fabric and Christmas garland. I didn’t have any lines to say, which was probably a good thing; I just had to walk down the church’s center aisle and on to the podium and stand watch over the manger and baby Jesus.

     Christmas is a lot of people’s favorite time of the year, but sometimes I feel it’s become too commercialized. A lot of folks forget the real reason Christmas exists.

     I, for one, will continue to remember the true reason of Christmas and I’ll be keeping my eye on that baby in the manger.

     And how was your week?

     Lifestyles Editor Tammie Brewer can be reached at The DAILY LEADER at 601-833-6961 ext. 134, by email at tbrewer@dailyleader.com or you can write to her at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven MS 39602.