"Kids These Days"
Amanda Winters
Contact Amanda at awinters@sequimgazette.com

Normally I ignore chain e-mails with all their “fwd fwd fwds” but in November one caught my eye and stuck with me.

There were no outrageous claims, cute animal pictures, threats of clowns killing me if I didn’t pass it along or promises of incredible blessings if I did, just a simple and encouraging message about buying Christmas gifts locally. So I did.

As of Saturday afternoon, when I purchased the last gift on my list at Solar City’s Tesa Boutique, I spent all but $25 at small, locally-owned and operated stores in Sequim and Port Angeles.

While some of the items I purchased were more expensive than similar items at big-box stores, they were also more unique and more meaningful. My family won’t get as many gifts from me, but what they do get will be thoughtfully chosen and of a greater benefit to our community.

The last city I lived in was like Silverdale but much larger, with big box stores up and down the streets and a mall two blocks from my neighborhood. Sometimes I miss walking through the mall on a quiet evening, looking at things in stores that stayed open until 9 p.m., had plenty of convenient parking and so much from which to choose.

But the owners of Macy’s, Best Buy, Target and American Eagle never met me, learned my name or said hi to me. Theresa at Solar City did and I want to support her and her business. She earned it!