Hillbilly Elegy

there’s always Toys for Tots. During the
past few Christmas seasons, I’ve found
myself in large department stores, buying
toys for kids I’ve never met.
As I shop, I’m reminded that
wherever I fell on the American
socioeconomic ladder as a child, others
occupy much lower rungs: children who
cannot depend on the generosity of
grandparents for Christmas gifts; parents
whose financial situations are so dire
that they rely on criminal conduct—
rather than payday loans—to put today’s
hot toys under the tree. This is a very
useful exercise. As scarcity has given
way to plenty in my own life, these
moments of retail reflection force me to