Working the last few days before Christmas is a futile task. Nobody is focused, hardly anyone is in the office, and those who are there are typically just physically present so they can report ‘honestly’ on their timecard. I, on the other hand, had other motives for going in. My coworker and I decided to make both breakfast and lunch for us and the two other employees in the office and we thought it would be fun if the two of us brought in gifts and drew names. Luckily, I got mine and get to keep the gift card.
After all of the food and gift card keeping festivities, we decided to go buy more food so that we could make this group eating at the office a regular occurrence. As we pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store we noticed a lady shoving a fake tree into the back of her car. Although I already have a eco-green tree, I am American, and felt I needed more. So, I asked her about the tree – price, quality, etc. She informed me it was a pre-lit (sounds like so many of my friends) display and was “dirt cheap.” Say no more, I was sold.
We found the tree and asked a sales associate for help in taking it off of the seasonal display. The tree was covered in unactivated gift cards for various local retailers. “We’ll take all of these cards off the tree – I’m sure you don’t want them,” the sales associate said to me and couldn’t have been more wrong. “Au contraire,” I replied. “I love those on the tree! They are perfect. I fully plan to suggest that people take one when they visit. Even though they’re not activated, it’s the thought that counts. Right?” He completely agreed and we shoved the tree in the back of the car, gift cards and all.