Sometimes, if we pay attention, we can learn more about ourselves by watching our likes and our dislikes than we can through all the torturous hours spent in personal inventory and contemplation. I'm talking about Christmas gifts.  Yes, Christmas gifts. I have rules about Christmas gifts.  I finish my shopping no later than the first week of December, always.  That doesn't mean that I don't shop after that date, but I want to know that the important, core gifts for people who really matter are acquired and wrapped by that date.  Anything else I see after that or purchase is, well, serendipity.  And, oh yes, I don't like malls.   I…