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Stocking Update, Rudolph Sells Insurance
December 15, 2007Thanks to everyone (both of you) who left a comment about Christmas stockings. You can see the list here, including an interesting post about giving kids suitcases for Christmas and leading them to believe that was all they got, while the rest of the presents were inside. Classic.
Feel free to leave a comment If you're still inclined to help my research grant. I'd also like suggestions for things to put in stockings, as we're a bit stumped for our son and daughter. I keep coming up with things like iPods, cellphones, Gameboys, gold doubloons, and other things that are small that I would like to get if I was a child. Alert Shopper Tammy, on the other hand, comes up with things like toothpaste and soap and other more practical items.
I have one other holiday item to report, as I sit in our house with the sleet chipping away at the windows, and this is a very sad and disturbing story. Apparently, Rudolph has sold out to the man.
In order to understand how I feel about this, you need to know that I come from the generation that only saw Christmas shows once a year, when they ran on network TV. Back then (he says fondly, while grimacing from the rheumatism) these shows were special because they only appeared briefly, and weren't available the rest of the year on cable, DVD or YouTube. The family would gather around the TV set and tune in that special night.
So imagine my horror when I saw Rudolph selling insurance. I suppose this is a brilliant move on Aflac's part, but when I saw all of the characters from the old cartoon I was stunned. At first I thought it was some sort of parody, but it's the real thing. I suppose it was inevitable, and next year Cindy Lou Who will be hawking home security.
What do you think? Horrible exploitation or brilliant reminiscence?
Comments
I try to go in between super-expensive toys and practical. I try to fill my daughter's stocking with fun things I'm normally too practical to get her the rest of the year. This year she's getting some cute clip-on earrings, flavored lip balm, fancy stickers, etc. (The "etc." is just a cover-up because I can't remember what else I've gotten for her stocking. Since all stocking items must be wrapped, I can't dig them out and check.) I've done candy & gum in the past, but she has so much of that stuff right now I'm not bothering.
Posted by: Carol | December 16, 2007 11:06 PM
I do NOT put toothpaste and soap in my children's stocking (excepting the fizzy bath balls) and you better post this comment!
(I have no idea who this is -ed.)
Posted by: Tammy | December 17, 2007 8:27 PM
First of all, it WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO that the Christmas specials were on TV only once a year, and on a non-cable network at that. To admit that that happened a long time ago would age all of us way too much. And yes, Rudolph has sold out, and Aflac should be horribly ashamed, although I doubt it.
Posted by: Carole | December 17, 2007 11:36 PM
Wasn't that like 80 years ago? It seems that way. I've probably watched too much CNN and so things seem like they've been moving much slower. Everyone else that reads here though is likely much younger than I.
Posted by: Carl | December 18, 2007 1:41 AM