Not an Absolute

Consuming gifts the year we received them.

For those who have had a lifetime practicing deferred gratification, the habit is difficult to break. With money, it can be argued that saving is always worthwhile, no matter one's age.

But saving perishables is futile. Quality and taste degrade in the freezer, and we've had to dump more food from the refrigerator section than we care to remember.

The Christmas dinner--for the first time ever--was prepared from the gift of food that someone sent us. The steaks came out fresh and moist, unlike previous years' desiccated offerings that were consumed the following March.

Deferred gratification is a useful principle to live by, but it's not an absolute.