Christmas Eve Party – No Presents, Just Presence Requested

The presents are wrapped.  The party food is bought.  Today’s shipping for my business is done. 

Did we spend as much this year as we have in the past?  Nope.  Does it matter?  Nope.  My New Year’s mantra is “Simplify.  Simplify.”

In the past, I’ve watched as myself and everyone around me run around to get just the right ______ fill in the blank for every person they know.  This is commendable at first glance, yet profoundly silly in hindsight.  Name 3 perfect gifts that you received last year and match the person that gave them to you.   Thinking hard?  I don’t remember too many perfect gifts from the last decade…  That’s not what Christmas has become for me.

Gifts are wonderful, don’t get me wrong.  Bring ’em on!   But don’t charge your credit card or go without rent money to buy them for me.   Please.  Better yet, if it comes down to spending on us or the grandkids before you hit your max, please don’t pick us.   We just want you to be happy…. and debt-free to boot.

What are some of my fondest memories of the last few Christmases?  The traditional Christmas Eve party that is now held at our daughter’s house has many nice memories for me.  Since we moved a half hour away from a good portion of our family to be nearer to my mother (who passed away in September 2007) about 5 years ago, our daughter who lives in our former house with her family,  has taken over the Christmas Eve party that we hosted for many years.   There are no gifts exchanged at this party,  just a lot of eating and being merry.  ALL family is invited, not just a selection.  For some of us this is one of the few times per year that we see some of our family due to life in general getting in the way.  There are no disputes (we were always Switzerland) and some family just drops in on their way to another gathering, but there are really no rules other than no gifts and no squabbles (leave them at the door).

We always take a group photo when the party has reached it’s max.  Some years there were many in the photo, other years due to illness or snowstorm there were few.  I look back on the photos and feel Christmasy, if that’s a word.  There’s no other way to describe it. 

No wrapped present has ever really done that for me. 

How about you?

 

AIG Party Cost $440K – NYS Insurance Dept Supervisor Condones

Not only does AIG throw a $440,000 mega-party for it’s executives just one week after their bailout (paid for by you and me) but the Superintendent of the New York State Department of Insurance, Eric Dinallo, said that he sees somes value to the luxury retreat party at the St. Regis Resort & Spa.  He actually stated that the retreat was a sound measure to ensure that it’s employees would not flee the company.  WTF?  They should all be glad they still have jobs and don’t have to shop around a resume showing that at their last job they helped underwrite AIG right into the ground.  Who’d hire an AIG castoff?  They admitted after the bailout that top executives hid a full range of risky financial products from auditors as their ship was sinking.  The investigation continues.  They still got their bailout though.  What would any sane corporation do after being given $85 billion?  Go to the St. Regis Resort, of course.

The fact that the executives from the division that brought the company down were not invited does not make me feel better about it.  The fact that the New York State Insurance Department Supervisor condones this type of behavior makes me wonder how my tax dollars are being spent.

PS – One AIG executive, Joseph Cassano, received more than $280 million in 8 years but was shown the door in February 2008 when many investments went bad.  He was allowed to keep $34 million in bonuses and was also put on a consulting retainer for $1 million PER MONTH which he is still receiving.