The holidays have arrived, and I dread it. I hate Christmas shopping. I never know what to buy and material gifts seem so ephemeral for the occasion.

One year, my wife and I decided not to give store bought gifts to our family. We both wrote stories of our lives and of people in our lives. A friend recorded and mixed our reading of these spoken snapshots. We called the collection "A Christmas Without Shopping" and gave copies to our loved ones as gifts of our lives to them.

Several of mine now appear in A Catalogue of Common People. After listening to the recording, my parents wanted copies for their friends. My mother told me not to buy anything more for her for special occasions. She said she wanted stories from me instead.

Each of us has our own unique experiences. My late grandfather used to say every person is a book. Please consider giving something more this year. Give your dreams, memories, and reflections to your loved ones.

Your stories will last longer than anything you can buy at the mall.


Best wishes and good hope,


Mark Darrah
Author of A Catalogue of Common People, a collection of personal essays and commentaries

December 6, 2019