Black Friday Madness

We just got through with our nap after doing our part to help Black Friday stay Black. Chris and I are crazy enough to do this every year-either that or we just can't afford not too. Luckily this year our kids are old enough to leave alone in their beds while we go brave the early morning cold, long lines, and a little pushing and shoving. So it was easier too just take off without the worry of who will stay with the kids. For us it starts after Thanksgiving Dinner, when all is cleaned up we study the ads. The first round is the elimination round. All ads that we know we won't use go in one pile, the rest go in another for a second round. Then next round we compare prices and see which store is our first stop-Its always Wal-mart by the way. Then we have to prioritize the savings of each item and popularity. Then we try to go to bed and sleep for a few hours. My mind is too busy contemplating our plan of attack to sleep that much. Then we wake up at 3:30, slap on a hat, brush our teeth, and we're off. Lucky for us, our Wal-mart is open 24/7 so we go in grab the stuff that isn't off limits until sale time. Pick up a map of special bargains and designate who will go stand by the items that will disappear in seconds , to get our loot. Then depending on who is closer to our second and third choices, we run through and grab all the other items we need. This is the closest thing to "Super Market Sweep" without actually being on the show. We meet back up and usually wait in line to pay. Then off to the next store on the priority list. We always get everything on our list, so I think we have this shopping sport down. This probably sounds miserable to most people. Heck if I didn't know better you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to get me to go based on everything we hear. I was especially sad this year to hear about a stampede death in New York at a Wal-mart there. It makes a person sick to think that people act that crazy over a few saved bucks. But, we always hear the bad and never the good. I would like to share some of the good things we experience on Black Friday. While we wait we talk and become friends with those around us. In some places that is normal but in Utah, we don't talk to strangers in the store, in general. (There are a few exceptions.) So it is nice that we form a sort of camaraderie. You will see people helping each other all over the place. People will say "will you grab one of those for me and I will grab one of these over here for you". Or "Oh you need that. My husband is over there waiting for that. I'll call him and have him grab an extra." Or you will see people holding up items. "Anyone need this? We decided against it". There is a real sense of "We're all in this together, lets help each other out." It's rarely like that here in Utah with strangers, very common amongst friends and neighbors-just not strangers. I like to see and experience that. Plus there is always the thrill of the hunt, the elation of getting what you set out for, Plus lets not forget the beauty of a well laid plan! So there are things that are good about the Black Friday Chaos. I just hope people will not loose their humanity to the animalistic hunt.