Wise Guys

Long ago, before VISA existed, people would have to pay for their presents through other means.
Poor families would often have to struggle in order to afford enough Furbees for their numerous chilren.
Oftentimes, they would strke an accord with the local merchants.
They would be given all of the Ninja Turtles and Go-Bots they would need.
In exchange for one of these children.
The merchants could keep these youngssters as property.
And set them to toil in the furnace rooms of their elaborate mansions.
Traditionally, the family would open all of their gifts Christmas morning.
Then, the following day, they would take the agreed upon child-
Oftentimes the most unattractive, or irratiting would be chosen-
And then the family would force this urchin into a box.
Taking turns drilling air holes into the top of the box.
And then lifting the box, as a family, to the previously determined delivery point specified by the merchant.
Boxing Day.
In time, the merchants would have a surplus of reject, Boxing Day children.
So he would sell them to barren, childless families.
At ludicrously low prices.
Boxing Day sales.

That was lackluster, at best.
Hi.
Sorry I haven't been around.
But all but the most depressed and lonely of you have probably not been around either.
For another Christmas Day has passed.
And each year at this time, I can't help but think:
Gold, frankincense and myrrh are terribly irrational gifts to give a baby.
Gold makes sense, I guess.
You could trade that for figs.
But the other two are tree sap.
If someone brought tree sap to a baby shower these days, everyone would later talk about that person behind their back.