Spring Break
The Love family's Christmas misadventures
Rachel Love
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Diversions
Lisa, about 12 years old at the time, waited anxiously for Christmas morning like the rest of us. She snuck down at 5 a.m. to get her stocking full of tangerines and hard candies, and then waited for the youngest (me) to start handing out the brightly colored packages under the tree. Then she waited some more. It soon became apparent that Lisa had only one present, a CD. It was UB 40, a one-hit wonder band only known for their song "Red Red Wine." My sister didn't even like them. My mom, feeling supremely horrible for forgetting about her second-born, took her shopping during the after-Christmas sales, but the fact remains that Christmas that year was not a very fun affair for my sister Lisa.
This gets me to thinking about the countless 12-year-olds in this state, and our nation, who will go without presents this Christmas. It's not something we selfish college students often think about, but donating even the smallest thing, like a box of crayons, to a local toy drive around the holidays can have amazing results. As much as I joke (especially in this recession), the most meaningful gifts you can give are very small. Volunteer at "meals on wheels" during your month off, or at a local soup kitchen. Go to Toys R' Us and spend five dollars to make a kid happy. It doesn't take very much. In this day and age, it will take about five seconds to find a local toy drive or soup kitchen in your area. Do it.
Rachel Love
diversions@dailybarometer.com
This gets me to thinking about the countless 12-year-olds in this state, and our nation, who will go without presents this Christmas. It's not something we selfish college students often think about, but donating even the smallest thing, like a box of crayons, to a local toy drive around the holidays can have amazing results. As much as I joke (especially in this recession), the most meaningful gifts you can give are very small. Volunteer at "meals on wheels" during your month off, or at a local soup kitchen. Go to Toys R' Us and spend five dollars to make a kid happy. It doesn't take very much. In this day and age, it will take about five seconds to find a local toy drive or soup kitchen in your area. Do it.
Rachel Love
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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