There's a little tradition in the United States called BLACK FRIDAY. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, millions of Americans get up super early and go shopping for amazing deals at their favorite retailers. Why do they get up early, brave the cold, bump against the burgeoning crowds to shop for deals when they could be sleeping? Well, the deals are pretty danged amazing.
Confession: When Darling Teen was a lot younger, I'd take advantage of the sales for Christmas shopping. Later I used the deals to buy my required black tie event dress at a super discounted price. Trust me, there is nothing quite like trying on a formal gown when you look like death in a skillet and you're one cup of coffee away from a caffeine from a compulsory trip to the ladies room located at the opposite side of the department store.
I gave up BLACK FRIDAY five years ago. I started shopping online. I no longer needed the sales. Often times, most of the stuff is just that. Stuff. And it's stuff we don't need or want. But my Darling Husband and Darling Teen have taken up my BLACK FRIDAY mantle. Every year they get up and make a strategic plan and, armed with my meager list of two or three things, they go shopping for my Christmas presents. It's quite cute. And they have a great time. But honestly, I usually don't have much to put on the list. It's not about the list, it's about the companionship they have and the relationship they build while they are shopping that counts.
Confession: They don't get up early. They leave when they are ready. And they have learned that if there is an ALABAMA or AUBURN game on Black Friday, they will have zip to battle in the crowding department.
And what do I do while they are gone? I start getting ready for decorating for Christmas. Down come all the autumn colors and back into the attic the various items go. Then I clean--dust the surfaces that haven't been dusted in a while hehe-- then I start putting up the easier decorations. We save the tree for the family to decorate together.
Confession: Every year we have an annual argument about the placement of my Darling Husband's beloved "chair" which is strategically placed to watch the flat screen television. This place is right where the tree must go. It's never pretty. There is also the musical dance of the furniture which must be endured. No. We are not a Norman Rockwell painting when it comes to the positioning of the tree.
Usually we eat leftovers that night. But this year we may not have many, so we might just have pizza or a store bought Stouffer's Lasagna. This is our calm before the tree positioning argument. We have a laugh or three, drink a bit of wine (or a lot), watch a few movies, and hang out.
The best part about bailing out of BLACK FRIDAY? Sleeping in!
Do you shop on BLACK FRIDAY? What's the best deal you ever got? And if you bail out of shopping, what do you do instead?
8 comments:
I have never shopped on Black Friday. Truthfully, for years I waited until Christmas Eve to do all my shopping. Last minute decisions proved to be spot on some years, others, not so much. Who knew a waffle iron would be such a big hit.
It's nice your daughter and husband conspire with each other. That's sweet.
Monster Baby wanted to get the tree yesterday but like you, Ihave to wrangle with the furniture.
Good morning Anne! I know. Today I'll take down the Thanksgiving decorations while Darling Husband and Darling Teenager shop. I'll probably clean a bit, start some light decorating and we'll finish up on Saturday with the tree.
I haven't got any idea what to put on my list. Every year it gets smaller. I have no real needs. So it's a challenge to give them something to shop for on Black Friday LOL.
No Way! I slept in, too. There's nothing out there that I want bad enough to stand in line. I'm going to be doing revisions today and I may go out to lunch. That is it.
I love your blog design, Cheryl.
That's one perk of being broke: since I have no money to spend, I don't have to worry about what great deals I am missing out on today, LOL! However, my 14yo wants to go to the mall to hang out with his friends, so I plan to drop him off around lunchtime and then go park at my favorite Borders with a cup of coffee and my laptop and up my NaNoWriMo word count; we have plenty of leftovers, so I don't have to worry about getting home in time to cook. The Christmas decorations will have to wait a week or two, although I guess I could swap out the Thanksgiving tablecloth for the Christmas one. One day at a time!
Hi Patricia: Your day sounds great. I love the idea of sleeping in and catching up on the writing/revisions. I'm not writing today--in between projects--but I am catching up on some craft book reading and generally lazing around.
Thanks for the compliment about the blog design. My darling teen did all the work.
:-)
Hi Pam: I see no reason to go buy stuff just for the sake of buying it. Usually the stuff that is on sale isn't what I need or want. I do think it's cute how my daughter and husband plot their shopping strategy for me.
Your day sounds productive and fun. Cheering you on as you go for the NaNo writing goal!!
Me? I'm lazy today.
:-)
Hi Christine! This is my first time on your blog. Very nice!
No Black Friday shopping for me. I did it once about 3 years ago to get a great deal on a laptop at Staples. I thought I would freeze to death before the store opened! I'm not a morning person and I don't like the cold. But my darling daughter and her friends were up and out before 2:30 this morning! Uuuh, not me.
I would love to be lazy today but it looks like I'll begin the Christmas decorating today as well. It's yucky outside so maybe I can slip in a nap somewhere in my day.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Sherry: Welcome to the Veranda. I'm glad you stopped by to visit. I'm with you: no cold and no early shopping in the cold for me. DT & DD are heading out in a little while. Once they're out the door, I'll start putting up the Thanksgiving stuff. But this is a lazy day for me--no real writing occurring till Monday.
:-)
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