The craziness of the moment, as observed by one young shopper who is out in the middle of the shopping frenzy.
I don't know why my folks insist on dragging us with them as they tackle the "after-Thanksgiving" sales.
Yet here I sit in the snack section of Wal*Mart, munching on a glazed donut and drinking a Coke while my folks look for the items on the top of their Christmas gift wishes: such as the new "Tickle-me-Elmo" for my baby sister or the new XBox game for my little brother.
If they manage to find it I should consider them lucky. Lord knows they won't be able to get them without a fight on their hands. Already I have seen the police come storming into the store, even saw a pair of paramedics rolling a wheeled stretcher to attend to someone who got hurt or fainted.
The stores are crowded; the lines are long--and it's not even eight o'clock in the morning. We've been here since the doors opened at six; and it's been nonstop craziness ever since with no letup in sight.
Personally, I'd rather be back in my nice, warm, toasty bed, with the covers over my head, like my brother and sister. (Grandma is watching them while we shop.) Yet mama and dad saw the sales items; they had to go, no questions asked. "It's the only way we can give you guys a Christmas to remember", they said to us.
I think it was greed that drove them to the store. It's like they think we have to have the "big thing" in giftdom; I'd rather do without. I'd be happier with a book or a simple electronic handheld game than an XBox or a Wii game system.
I guess they think since they both work, they can spend the money. Well, that's all in good, but it's not going to pay the bills, particularly when the credit card bills start coming in in January. Then they are going to have to bust their butts to pay off the bills generated from the Christmas shopping snafu.
It's crazy: I just saw a little boy on crutches get mowed over by a big, beefy brute who didn't even say excuse me; now the kid is crying his eyes out. I don't know if he's hurt or not, but he's definitely not happy; he's not feeling very joyful this holiday season! His mother, meanwhile, is pummeling the big, beefy brute, calling him every dirty name in the book. They may end up fighting if the store people don't intervene, quick!
Next I see two grown men pulling at a tv they are holding in their hands; one wants it, the other wants it too. Very reasonably priced; they both gotta' have it. Whoops! They just dropped it! BAM!! Oh, dear! That television is toast! Meanwhile, the two men stand there, facing one another, scatching their heads in disbelief. Stupid, stupid people!!
"You gotta' pay for that, mister!" I hear a store clerk scream. She is as mad as hops. She's stressing out big time. A lot of the store workers are; this is Black Friday; this is the busiest shopping day of the year, and already they are wigging out, even though it's just after eight o'clock in the morning.
If they think it's bad now, wait until the weekend or the Saturday/Sunday before Christmas. THEN you are talking pure-t "Madness"!!
A Craziness I never did subscribe to. I'm enjoying left-overs today, as I read poetry and crochet my little-boy-blue's "white blanky" --pretty good picture show you created. --Charlie
To the point and all too true. It's a sick, sick world we live in today. Glad I'm old and getting older every day. I don't want to even be around 25 years from now to see just how bad it's going to get. Dear Lord, I'm ready any time You see fit to take me Home. I've had enough. Sad to feel that way, isn't it? Oh well, such is life. Sometimes I think the Quakers have the right idea. Each year it just gets worse and worse. Merry Christmas and God bless you Karen.
Your friend in sticks of New Hampshire and glad to be here.
Paul
Reviewed by LadyJtalks LadyJzTalkZone
11/23/2007
That's why we just stay home today and most times from now till then. Good story and the parents could have left her home too! Lady J
By Black Friday my belly is still too full to let me move longer than eight feet (WC door) the beer are served by some kind soul that don't want me to keel over trying.
Georg
And that dear Karen is why my shopping is done, wrapped and pretty well delivered to other Provinces. I will not fight for what I really want. Great write that should teach others to do it early.
Thank you for sharing..
Newfie hugs are coming your way, Rose
Greed drives people to new levels of insanity: you capture Black Friday (should be black and blue Friday!) perfectly. Thank God we're not getting out in that mess--couldn't afford to, a n y w a y.
Excellent.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
We'll get out to Wal*Mart, but ONLY for groceries! LOL
The stores are crowded; the lines are long--and it's not even eight o'clock in the morning.
I would rather be anywhere on Earth today, Black Friday, then in any store, anywhere, even sitting in my dentist's chair, and I truly hate going there.
