Law Students

Extended family is getting together this weekend for some post-holiday family time. Plans call for our first ever dirty santa (white elephant, etc...) gift exchange as a family, with gifts in the $5 -$10 range. At Christmas, a couple of family members spent some time explaining the rules as they've played them in the past. All assembled thought it sounded like fantastic fun - all except me, that is.

I decided right then that I'd rather sit back with a glass of wine and watch the festivities than participate. Mom and Dad tried to talk me out of my decision yesterday, but I held fast. I know my own limitations and they include this: if I open a gift that I'd really like to keep, I'm going to get pissed if someone takes it. That's it in a nutshell. I'm all about minimizing stress and conflict when possible.

Dad, in claiming my position is "quite a little quirk," pointed out that the game is "potluck" and that if you go into the exercise with no/low expectations, there'll be no disappointment in the end. He also tried to claim that you go into the game with nothing, and come out with an unexpected gift of some sort. But of course you go in with a known $5-$10 gift, and could come out with some jacked up shiz. I much prefer the spectator sport approach.

Full post as published by Just Playin on January 15, 2008 (boomark / email).