This past weekend, my husband and I embarked on a whirlwind shopping spree that began Friday after work and ended 24 hours later, when we dropped our bundles onto the dining room table and collapsed into bed.

Why this approach to something that could be accomplished in smaller doses over the next several weeks? Because marathon shopping is the best way for me to get through the gift-buying season.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I equate shopping with other loathsome tasks like cleaning hair from a clogged drain. Shopping involves making spur-of-the-moment decisions, something I've never been good at, and spending more money for things than they're worth.

So with every purchase, I hem and haw, wondering if I am making the best selection: Will she like the brown or blue sweater? Will it go on sale? Can I get a better price elsewhere?

Through the years, I have tried different approaches to holiday shopping, some more successful than others.

When the kids were younger and I was in and out of stores more often, I would buy gifts throughout the year, accumulating a significant number of items by the time December rolled around, and spreading Christmas expenses over an extended period of time.

Younger then, I could also remember where I put the presents for safekeeping and for whom I bought them. When I found a child's pair of bluejeans at the back of my closet — two sizes too small for any of my kids — I knew that my failing memory could no longer sustain this shopping style.

More recently, my husband worked in the hardware section at Sears, and he did a lot of the holiday shopping, picking up good buys whenever possible. While our "presents" stockpile was substantial by Dec. 1, there were more screwdrivers and socket sets than there were persons on our gift list.

The confused look on my 8-year-old niece's face when she unwrapped a flashlight made me realize our approach to gift-buying had to change.

I tried shopping on the Internet, which made me anxious, and gift cards, which I dismissed as too impersonal. Now I do marathon shopping — 24 hours of walking the mall, hunting down deals and checking off the gift list.

We began our excursion Friday around 6 p.m., and shopped until closing. We were back at the mall shortly after the stores opened at 8 the next morning. Grandma, grandpa, sister, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, coworkers, sons and daughter. We covered them all.

Oh, I admit, there are one or two items that I still have to get, but considering the season, we did a remarkable job. But that doesn't mean that I'm ready for the holidays.

The mound of packages is still on the dining room table. They need to be sorted and wrapped. We also have to get our tree. Decorate it. Send Christmas cards. Bake.

With all this extra work, I wonder why it is called the holidays.

Linda K. Schmitmeyer is a freelance writer living in Middlesex Township. Her e-mail address is lks260@zoominternet.net.