I’m curious, for my black Friday shoppers out there…why? What is it about black Friday that makes you brave the masses, and often frigid temperatures, to drive you to start lining up at 2 or 3 in the morning to go shopping? I’m an introvert, I don’t like the chaos of crowds, so I will not be joining anyone in lining up that early. It just doesn’t suit me.

I see news reports about people fighting, I witnessed today an undercover employee busting a shoplifter with the assistance of an undercover police officer. Really? The busiest shopping day of the year and this is when you choose to try and steal something? I hope you enjoy your shiny new bracelets dummy. All the violence and madness for what? A zhu zhu pet? Elmo dolls? Video games? I don’t understand.

I see the great bargains on stuff out there, but nothing I see that would be worth my time. My time is worth way more than $10 or even $1000 off something I might not plan to keep for myself. I might understand the logic behind needing to save every possible dollar and these toys are all our children get for Christmas so we need to maximize the few dollars we have. Somehow though, I don’t see that scenario being true for everyone.

I’m not mocking, putting down, or anything of the sort here, I simply don’t understand the logic behind it.

I do mock our society for the craziness that has made Christmas the commercial holiday it has become. Even if you’re not religious and do not celebrate the holiday for what it is, a birthday. The spirit of Christmas is one to embrace regardless of religious beliefs, a celebration of love for friends and family is wonderful and has no affiliation. However, if you don’t hold on to that view of the holiday, it’s too easy to forget.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to give gifts. I love the feeling I get from giving someone a gift out of love and or appreciation. Especially a gift that is meaningful to the recipient. If you did get up and out by 5 am this morning and there’s something for me in those bags, thanks! I appreciate the sacrifice you made to get me a gift. However, I am more thankful just to be on your list in the first place.