Every year we go to stores that are open on Christmas and my grandchild and I hunt for gift cards from the rack. We make a point of looking confused and unable to decide which one. We grab a few (Amazon, Target and Visa) and wait in line to get to the checker. Safe to say that none of these people want to be working on Christmas, and likely they're the bottom of the totem pole and got the Christmas day shift.

At the counter, I spin a tale of being invited to Christmas party we weren't prepared for, and we're suppose to bring a gift for someone. As it turns out, the person we were matched with to bring a gift for happens to be "about your age and also a girl" (or boy as the case may be). Since I'm old and my grandchild is young, we're not sure which one of these would be the best one.

The checker will then explain which one they think would be best and why, we have a chance to have a bit of a warm conversation with them. We then instruct the checker to put $50 on the card.

When they hand the card back to me, I hand it to my grandchild and he (or she, whichever one is with me) says "MERRY CHRISTMAS, this is for you!" and hands it back.

It's very cool, and my grandkids LOVE the secrecy and trickery and how smoothly grandpa can lie to people's faces. I get much more enjoyment out of watching my grandchild be a part of this than the recipient, and we've had some pretty cool experiences. Often there are tears of gratitude as we bounce off to the next store. I also have a few $20 bills and we'll pull up alongside someone walking on the street or waiting for a bus and I'll roll down my rear passenger side window and my grandchild will hold out a $20 bill and wish them a Merry Christmas and we drive off.

Fun memories, excited for tomorrow. Highly recommend.