Wait until next year

A day of Christmas shopping. Some people will try to convince you this is a stupid, hellish experience. And yet it was lovely. It felt so much more meaningful than just clicking on websites. Maybe I’m just a luddite, maybe I’m just a sentimental fool.

There were moments of gentle humanity and humour. The kindness of shop staff, the heroes of the season. Fellow shoppers opening doors for each other. The woman at the fast food place who took my tray to empty in the bin after emptying her own. The bus driver, seeing a woman holding a huge hamper at the upcoming stop, miming “For me? You shouldn’t have!” as he pulled up.