Man on the Street is Greg Kristapovich
“Have YOU put up your Christmas tree yet – or started your Christmas shopping?”
(asked at a “Tuolumne Talkers” Toastmasters’ meeting at Papa’s New Roost, East Sonora)
“No, but we have, in front of our house, six bushes and we put lights on them – like a net. We also put lights on the edge of the roof of our house, down there in Hemet in the middle of December. We get down there by the end of November, but give us a week to settle down, first! Christmas shopping? My wife, she writes a check to everybody. When we get down there (to Hemet), she starts writing the checks! She has a list, and she writes a check to: all the kids, all the grandkids, all the great grandkids! We have eight kids!” – Ken Lew, Twain Harte, (retired grocer)
No, I have not. Usually I don’t put the tree up until after Thanksgiving. Putting up the tree (in early November) is too early for me – because I’m a procrastinator. I enjoy Christmas. I don’t always take my lights down until spring. But on the outside, because it’s so dark, it’s fun to pretend you’re having a festival every night! We don’t do a lot of Christmas shopping in our house. We usually send packages to family that live a distance from us; and we do it all at once – usually mail order.” – Emily O’Neill, Columbia, (interior decorator/owner of a drapery workroom)
“No, I haven’t. I never put my tree up until after Thanksgiving – and sometimes even later; because I’m more engrossed in putting lights on the house. When you come up on Nile River Drive, we have lights all the way around the circle! It’s a one-mile circle – and it’s just gorgeous; and I hardly ever Christmas shop! But, in the past, when I’ve done it, I wait until a day, maybe two days before Christmas. I get a sales clerk, and I go around and buy everything all at one time! No wasted motions!” – Gerry Emerson, Sonora, (retired sales manager)
“Hell no! I’m waiting for Thanksgiving! The tree won’t go up until well after Thanksgiving! It’s ludicrous to put a Christmas tree this time of year! Bah, humbug! No, after Thanksgiving. C’mon give me a break! It’s like, the stores will start putting their stuff up before Halloween! Rrrrrr! When do I start my Christmas shopping? I’m a guy. You know, like two days before – maybe a day before Christmas.” – Marv Dealy, Big Oak Flat, (Chairman of the Board of a computer company/computer repairman/columnist/editor & publisher of Yosemite Gazette)
“No, I haven’t – and I can’t believe all the Christmas stuff in all the stores already! We’re not even at Thanksgiving! So, you will NOT see MY Christmas tree until at least December 1st. Christmas shopping? Actually, I try to start it now. (she chuckles.) But I haven’t started. I just try to start it. But I really don’t start it until about two weeks before Christmas. I would rather do it now – if I could find the time, or make the time; otherwise, you’re in a big panic and you end up buying people stuff that they don’t really want. You just want to wrap something and stick it under the tree.” – Frances Connolly, Tuolumne, (RN)
