Social Media Sensation; Justin Sturdivant

Being the fact that Christmas has just passed, makes it only right that this week’s ‘Press Pass’ be geared

around the holiday season. I am truly in love with this time of year, because it is filled with joy, family,

friends, traditions, and creating new memories.

However, in the midst of all of the holiday festivities, many of us tend to get extremely caught up in ‘gift

giving.’ By feeling the pressure to get our loved ones the best gifts that we can possibly find, and are

determined to get them exactly what they need and want. But on the other side of that, I am sure that

you have not “loved” every gift you have ever received on Christmas.

We all have Christmas gift horror stories of getting pointless scarves, key chains, pens, and candy canes.

You all know where I’m coming from.

I don’t wish to make the season of Christmas to seem as if it’s all about fancy expensive gifts, because

it’s NOT! But in the spirit of giving, you would like to receive gifts that people seemed as though they

really put thought, care, and effort into what they got for you. And of course vice versa.

We have all had our fair share of receiving gifts that we didn’t necessarily care for. But did you ever stop

to think what it would be like to be on the other side of the fence. What if you were the one that

purchased the gift for someone and when they took off the glitter bows and holiday wrapping paper,

they only discovered that the gift that they wanted wasn’t there.

Well my younger brother is one of the most difficult people to shop for, on any occasion. It’s truly a task

shopping for him. One particular Christmas, he asked for a pair of sneakers. He did not explain what

style or version of shoes that he wanted. He just wanted shoes. So my mother and I traveled about the

city looking to find a great pair of sneakers for him. We finally found the pair that we thought was cute,

and made the purchase.

I was so excited to share this gift with him, that I was sure he was going to love. I even took the time out

to wrap it beautifully with extra decorations on it. I saved my gift for last. He begins to open the gift,

with a face of pure excitement. He tears the wrapping paper, and whips open the box!

Then suddenly his expression changed. The face that was once full of happiness and Christmas joy

quickly turned to confusion and disappointment. My brother took the sneakers out of the box, looked at

my mother and I, and the first thing he said was… “Are these to hoop in?” Which was his nice way of

putting that he didn’t like them. He thought they were practice or play shoes!

After I got over the fact that he hated the sneakers I picked out. We laughed about it for the rest of the

day.