Well, not exactly the chimney since the size of them would have made it collapse.
Still thinking about my mother.
When I was little, she never stuffed a traditional stocking. It was always a receptacle of some kind: a wastepaper basket, a bucket you’d take to the beach, or a new L.L. Bean Boat and Tote with your name on it. As you got older, initials would magically appear which is why, without hesitation, mine grace everything I own. In Connecticut they’re considered a rite of passage.
What brought this up?
I was in Duane Reade conversing with a woman who was busy buying regulation stockings….the kind with Santas and reindeer, snowmen and candy canes that normal people hang. Of course the size of them limit the stuffer, so as if my mother was advising from the grave, I said, “Have you ever thought about a nice wastepaper basket you can fill up, rather than one of these? I’ll bet it would be cheaper since these seem awfully overpriced to me.”
At first she didn’t quite grasp the suggestion, but then said, “Ya know, my kid does need a new clothes hamper, so maybe I should fill up one of those.” I could just feel my mother thrilled at the idea of a wicker hamper lined with some chintzy fabric, so I said, “If I were you, I’d make a beeline to Bed Bath and Beyond to get one. They have a whole hamper section.”
“That’s exactly what I’m gonna do, thank you so much.” I then whipped out a 20% coupon marinating in my wallet and gave it to her. She was so happy, and it was then I knew my mother had left the building. 
SB
Sounds like you weren’t Muggles 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should say not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a stocking hung on the bed and a pile under the tree. It took me years to work out that the stocking I hung was not the one I found full in the morning. Can’t believe I was that gullible! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You didn’t sweat the small stuff, even when you were little.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this story, Susannah. A tip and a coupon … an early Merry Christmas!
I accidently threw out my bag of stockings around 15 years ago. Since then I’ve stuffed their Santa hats, with larger items placed under the hats. As bonus I make them put the hats afterward for a group photo. They balk and complain that its lame, but I think they secretly like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great idea…hats. My mother would approve. 🙂
LikeLike
I marinate lottery tickets in my wallet. Doesn’t help them at all. Now a 20% off coupon would be good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get one a month from them plus one on my phone. I never buy Lottery tickets. Wonder why…hmm
LikeLiked by 1 person
My kids love opening the goodies in their stockings. This is where Mrs. Clause puts all the “good stuff” like cash & candy. I do know my daughter would be all for a monogramed tote and my son would be drooling over anything big filled with loot!
Nothing like a great tip and a coupon to make someones day!! That woman was probably smiling all the way to BB&B.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s my favorite store for most things. When they say, we will not be under sold, they’re not just whistling Dixie, or even Jingle Bells.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We would just grab a knee sock from our drawer and that was our stocking! Always woke up to an apple that was from the fridge and a new toothbrush! Never failed! Stockings were not part of the plan… I, on the other hand, now have 8 stockings hanging and waiting to be filled!
LikeLiked by 1 person