When my kids were growing up, there was one way to tell when the Christmas season really started for us. The Sears Christmas catalog would come and, even though it might still be a few months away, leafing through the pages of toys, decorations and festive goodies made the days go quicker. The kids would mark their favorites on each page and I would spend a few evenings checking out what they marked, trying to decide what Santa might be bringing.
Well, those days are gone -- but catalogs still excite me. These days I wait for the Christmas catalog that comes the end of September, the one that's featured on the TV news and radio spots. The one that, even though it's known for outrageous gifts, also has gifts that just about everyone can afford to give or get.
The Christmas Book from Neiman Marcus.
The Neiman Marcus 2004 catalog's top picks included a bowling alley for two -- only $1,450,000, a lifetime pass on American Airlines, a Zeppelin airship and a Grand Ole Opry appearance.
But it's not the fantasy gifts I covet, it's the gifts for collectors. And what do you get the collector that has everything? Something he doesn't have of course! It's guaranteed that collector doesn't have these items -- yet!
