The quality of manufactured goods has nosedived due to greed and lack of creativity. The density and thread coint of cotton goods is half of what it was 20 years ago. There are no really nice children's toys any more.

We end up "re-gifting" stuff that people give us, or donating it to worthy causes.

Christmas has become repulsively commercialized. Buy, buy, buy, spend, spend, spend.

My favorite gifts to receive are high-end under $50-100 consumables like a Far Niente, exotic French Roquefort, Barolo Pressenda, a fruit tart, Calumet Bourbon, etc. I don't need or want any more durables. I have achieved satiety and am in the process of offloading excess. 4 patterns of Sterling flatware ... really, who needs that? The next generations don't give a damn about Reed & Barton or Towle. Silver goblets sweat and leave water stains on fine mahogany furniture. I just re-outfitted my kitchen with Fortessa Royal Pacific 18/40 stainless, an affordable bamboo pattern with a sophisticated privy mark ... throw it in the dishwasher and it comes out beautiful.

I don't feel sorry for manufacturers and retailers of seasonal goods suffering from declining demand. They should re-think their product and marketing strategy to stay alive.

But, alas, I ramble. Happy Thanksgiving from JuJu and me.