Vegas Voice 12-18

By: Adrea Nairne-Barrera / 60s to 60
while back I discussed how technology
A has taken the personal touch out of the
traditions we held dear - such as hand written
holiday cards. I refused then, and I refuse now, to use the internet to
send a friend a holiday greeting.
Whatever holiday you celebrate, it’s supposed to be a time of peace,
love and friendship. That actually requires a little effort! To use the
internet to avoid a note, a card or a photo is just plain lazy.
As for gifts, they’re on line too. We can’t fight it. I reluctantly accept
16
Electronic Wishes & Other Annoying Holiday Treats
Songsters “Got Talent”
The Sun City Aliante Songsters is a non-profit choir of more than
45+ seniors living in Sun City Aliante 55+ Community who love to
sing or play instruments.
This year the Holiday Concert “Make a Joyful Noise” will be
performed at the Sun City Aliante Community Center on December
7 th, & 8 th at 7 pm. Tickets are $10. For tickets call Warren Geller at
702-538-9441
For more information about The Songsters, please contact Linda
Egge at 702/ 232-2113 or email her: lregge62@gmail.com.
December 2018
that option because going to some of these stores really is a pain
anyway. I guess I’m a hypocrite after all.
Anyway I’m still sending cards and notes. And when I look in the
mailbox to see someone sent one back, I get so excited! If the annual
holiday letter is included, I read every word even if it’s boring. Someone
actually put thought into the letter and that’s wonderful.
Let’s move on to re-gifting. That is certainly a slippery slope because
my circle of friends is much smaller than it used to be. With friends
leaving town and others have passed, many friends know each other so
a re-gift is out of the question.
I’m not willing to chance someone going to visit a mutual friend
and finding their gift to me sitting on the coffee table. It limits the
possibilities, so if Pier One doesn’t have what I want, I hit the internet.
Now let’s talk about all the shopping confusion like Black Friday
starting after Halloween or Cyber Monday after Black Friday which now
runs through the day after Thanksgiving. The stores don’t want you
to be with family on Thanksgiving because they’re announcing the
Black Friday door busters after you’ve stuffed yourself with turkey and
waddled to the store.
And if you happen to survive the layaway counter at Walmart, which
starts during the summer, they’ve killed your spirit entirely.
When I was a kid, the holidays were exciting. Everything sparkled,
people were happy and Santa was at Macy’s on 34 th Street. All the
stores had glorious moving displays & ice skaters were at Rockefeller
Center. Even subway cars had happy people with shopping bags of gifts.
(Obviously I’m from New York City).
Not one person knew what the internet was or how to send an
electronic greeting card. We even had a party line phone and it was
the one time we would actually butt in to a conversation to send good
wishes.
I don’t want to return to the 50s but a little less technology and a lot
more personal interaction would sure be nice. Happy Holidays to all!
Adrea Nairne-Barrera writes of celebrations, observations &
complaints of life in the 60s to being in your 60s.