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Holiday Season Brings Solemn Reflections

Essayist Nancy Gibbs takes a look at the challenges at hand during a holiday season marked by economic recession.

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  • GWEN IFILL:

    Finally tonight, guest essayist Nancy Gibbs of "Time" magazine considers what to value this holiday season.

  • NANCY GIBBS, Time:

    It feels different this year, walking down Fifth Avenue to see the lights. Are the windows mocking us now, gaudy and giddy, like it was just yesterday and all was well? Last year, Saks offered a $250,000 bottle of perfume.

    The price included free delivery in a Bentley. This year's Neiman Marcus's catalogue offers an entire Dallas Cowboys end zone for half-a-million dollars.

    But the store admits the outrageous gifts are mainly there to make us smile.