I've Got My Eye On You.

Sometimes I like pretending that I'm doing this blog thing as a full time job. I sit at a coffee shop and type away on my macbook, looking at all the mothers having their lunch dates with other moms. Usually, I'm one of a small group of guys sitting there in the middle of the day. I like to think that people see me typing away and assume I'm working on something. Most of the time, they're right, but there is the occasional instant message that I'm responding to or a message board post I'm leaving. They won't even know the difference. To them, I'm working on the next great American novel, but really I'm just responding to a friend's "sup?" OK, maybe they're not thinking that, but that's how I choose to believe it.

People watching has always been one of my favorite 'past times'. I don't really consider it that since I don't go out of my way to actually watch people. It's something that we seem to do when there is nothing left to do while we're in public. You can usually see men partaking in this 'activity' while sitting outside of a store, waiting for their other half to come out after spending more than the guys wish they had. I have to admit, the mall is quite possibly the best spot to people watch.

I can remember going to the mall as a teenager and spending most of my time just watching people go about their shopping. When you're a teen, there's not much money in your pocket, so you walk the mall without ever buying anything. My friends and I would perch ourselves on a bench or table and just comment on people who walked by. Being teens, sometimes the nicest things don't pop out of your head. But I was never that kid. I let my friends poke fun while I watched people, wondering what their lives were like.

That's usually when I start wondering if my life is real. I don't mean in the existential sense, I'm talking about The Truman Show kind of 'real'. I'd watch these strangers and wonder if they're just actors in a show based on my life. Even typing this, I wonder if there are cameras focused on me. You're probably thinking that I'm some sort of egomaniac, but I dare you tell me you've never had the same thought. It's a completely farfetched idea, but I'm guilty of wishing it were true sometimes. Luckily, it's not.

So, I smile at strangers. I don't know what's going on in their lives and who knows where they're headed to, or where they're coming from. I'm not filled with those answers, but I know this world could use a lot more kindness, even if it's a split moment we share together while sitting in a coffee shop.

What About Mom?

I'm terrible, I mean God awful, at buying gifts. The only person who I seem to get things right for is my sister. If that's not the case, she's one hell of an actress and deserves a lifetime achievement award for the performances she's put on every Christmas morning. But even when it comes to buying things for myself, I'm the absolute worst. I'm sure some of you out there could give me a run for my money (It's mine! You can't have it.) and you're probably right. At least I can get my sister the right things.

Mom has always been the toughest person to buy things for. It's not because she's a cold hearted woman with the emotions of a boulder. She's the exact opposite of that, but this doesn't help me buy gifts for her. The thing that makes my mom the toughest person to buy a gift for is that she was born on Christmas. Christmas! How am I supposed to find the right gift that says "Happy Birthday, Mom! You weren't upstaged by Jesus in the least bit"? So far, I've resorted to jewelry and spa days. 

It just sometimes feels like I have to make up for the years that I couldn't afford gifts while I was hanging out in the playground. Honestly, the thought that my Mom shared a birthday with Jesus on Christmas never really hit me until I was making a decent living. I guess I just took it for granted that my mom had dealt with it and moved on. But now was my moment to make her birthday and Christmas two separate events. Not to mention, I was completely wrong about her "dealing with it." No one would.

My sister and I, mainly my sister, hammered that fact home two years ago. We had decided to throw Mom the biggest party she'd had in years. The significant part of this event? It was going to be at the end of January as to keep it far away from Christmas and the holiday season. The party went off better than expected and planned! She was completely surprised and had a blast. The night was filled with dancing, drinking, and lots of laughs. Seriously, what more could you ask for in a party?

So, that had settled it. As of that night, I was able to separate my mom's birthday from the holiday season. Too bad it didn't help me with picking out gifts, though.