Perennial procrastinators power up those last shopping hours on Christmas Eve, frantically trying to snare last-minute gifts. It was no different in 2003 when Kristin Coulson arrived at Westfield Shoppingtown Franklin Park just before 2 p.m. with her daughter Keelyn, 2, having budgeted 70 minutes to find four gifts. She told The Blade she had the trip planned, “down to the second,” as she had to finish shopping, wrap gifts, whip up an appetizer and leave for a family gathering by 5 p.m. In this 2003 Blade archive photo Ms. Coulson clearly has shifted into high gear, power walking Keelyn in a fire truck stroller, loaded with shopping bags. This year’s shopping might be even busier as both Christmas and Hanukkah share a day. Hanukkah begins the evening of Dec. 25, lasting through Jan. 2. Because Jewish and Gregorian calendars are based on different systems, it will be the first time the religious holidays have aligned in this way on Dec. 25, since 2005, and it won’t happen again until 2035. Go to thebladevault.com/memories to purchase more historical photos taken by our award-winning staff of photographers, past and present, or to purchase combinations of stories and photos.
