Illustration: Zohar LazarLike a secret diplomat passing an envelope in neutral territory, I have carefully approached my family with a sensitive proposal: a Christmas gift de-escalation.
This proposal has come up before, and it always gets met positively, even enthusiastically, only to crumble in a sea of wrapping paper at the negotiating table.
Soon I am right back where I began, panicking in deep December, stuck in the maddening holiday arms race.
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Lazar