black friday: the good & bad
This is the weirdest Thanksgiving I've had in a long time. We'll start with the day-after-Thanksgiving-holiday: Black Friday.
I don't usually venture out shopping on Black Friday. The two main reasons for this are:
1. I hate that a family & friend-oriented holiday of thanksgiving* is interrupted so we can go be the good little American consumers. Sure you can get great sales, but I feel like I'd be selling my soul for that $20 savings. And my soul is worth at least $99.95.
2. I really get annoyed by large crowds of shoppers. Even when they are all acting completely normal it freaks me out a little. (Although I will, inevitably, be out a day or two before Christmas still looking for that perfect gift for someone).
Good
Today I did go shopping with my mom & sister, though. Every year my mom has 'adopted' a family, either through work or some other community thing, to give Christmas to - you know, where you anonymously buy a bunch of stuff that a less fortunate family needs (and, if you're my family, a bunch of stuff that you think they deserve just because Christmas is important, especially to kids).**
This year she decided to 'adopt' a military unit through Any Soldier. Except she's adopting them for an entire year, because she decided she should give back all year long. So we went to a dollar store (that had the best dollar store stuff I've ever seen) where she spent $146 for these 17 soldiers. The two girls in the unit got some girly stuff, even. So I didn't mind being out shopping on Black Friday for that kind of cause. Even though I'm against the war, I understand that the soldiers don't really get a choice in it and appreciate all they do. And my mom can hardly wait to get a couple letters back telling her exactly what they want and can use so she can send them their next packages.
Other news in the good category: I also got to see a couple friends from way back in high school who I haven't seen in over 5 years. I should be seeing some other friends from that group around Christmas. I got all of their new info and hopefully we'll stay in touch a little better over the next 5+ years.***
bad
My PawPaw (that's my maternal grandpa) died today. He's had alzheimers for several years, and been in a lot of pain the past couple of years. I hadn't seen him since summer of 2005 (they live in another state). My mom has been visiting several times a year. And of course my Granny lives nearby and visited all the time. My mom & Granny know that he's way better off; he's finally not in so much pain that morphine isn't doing anything to help, but neither one is doing too well with the news. (And Granny's birthday is Monday- ugh). Luckily my grandparents took care of their funeral arrangements several years ago, it's paid for, and the home my PawPaw was in will help finalize stuff, so Granny doesn't have to deal with all of that. I've been at peace with the fact he'd be dying 'any day now' for over a year, although I still wish I could have seen him one more time. I'll probably be traveling the middle of next week for the funeral & related stuff.
Also in the bad category: My aunt's father-in-law died on Thanksgiving day. This aunt would be my mom's sister - so that means her father-in-law died on Thursday, and her father died on Friday. Can you say Worst Thanksgiving Ever for her entire family?
*Dear Native Americans: As a white person, I have to say that I'm sorry white people suck so much. That first Thanksgiving was thanks to your kindness, generosity, and knowledge of survival in the Americas. I don't know when or why we decided that we couldn't just coexist and instead returned the favor by destroying so many of your people.
**My mom is so totally awesome for always participating and including us in these small acts. No matter how badly off she was, she has always found a way to give to others. There have been many holidays where she's apologized for cutting back on our gifts (which are still a-plenty) because she went "overboard" on the other family that year. I think this year I might get some friends together and do something like this, too. It not only taught us that it's important to help others, but that other people are valuable and worth something, even if they are at a bad point in ther life.
***Dear Friends from High School: It totally freaks me out that you are having kids.
I don't usually venture out shopping on Black Friday. The two main reasons for this are:
1. I hate that a family & friend-oriented holiday of thanksgiving* is interrupted so we can go be the good little American consumers. Sure you can get great sales, but I feel like I'd be selling my soul for that $20 savings. And my soul is worth at least $99.95.
2. I really get annoyed by large crowds of shoppers. Even when they are all acting completely normal it freaks me out a little. (Although I will, inevitably, be out a day or two before Christmas still looking for that perfect gift for someone).
Good
Today I did go shopping with my mom & sister, though. Every year my mom has 'adopted' a family, either through work or some other community thing, to give Christmas to - you know, where you anonymously buy a bunch of stuff that a less fortunate family needs (and, if you're my family, a bunch of stuff that you think they deserve just because Christmas is important, especially to kids).**
This year she decided to 'adopt' a military unit through Any Soldier. Except she's adopting them for an entire year, because she decided she should give back all year long. So we went to a dollar store (that had the best dollar store stuff I've ever seen) where she spent $146 for these 17 soldiers. The two girls in the unit got some girly stuff, even. So I didn't mind being out shopping on Black Friday for that kind of cause. Even though I'm against the war, I understand that the soldiers don't really get a choice in it and appreciate all they do. And my mom can hardly wait to get a couple letters back telling her exactly what they want and can use so she can send them their next packages.
Other news in the good category: I also got to see a couple friends from way back in high school who I haven't seen in over 5 years. I should be seeing some other friends from that group around Christmas. I got all of their new info and hopefully we'll stay in touch a little better over the next 5+ years.***
bad
My PawPaw (that's my maternal grandpa) died today. He's had alzheimers for several years, and been in a lot of pain the past couple of years. I hadn't seen him since summer of 2005 (they live in another state). My mom has been visiting several times a year. And of course my Granny lives nearby and visited all the time. My mom & Granny know that he's way better off; he's finally not in so much pain that morphine isn't doing anything to help, but neither one is doing too well with the news. (And Granny's birthday is Monday- ugh). Luckily my grandparents took care of their funeral arrangements several years ago, it's paid for, and the home my PawPaw was in will help finalize stuff, so Granny doesn't have to deal with all of that. I've been at peace with the fact he'd be dying 'any day now' for over a year, although I still wish I could have seen him one more time. I'll probably be traveling the middle of next week for the funeral & related stuff.
Also in the bad category: My aunt's father-in-law died on Thanksgiving day. This aunt would be my mom's sister - so that means her father-in-law died on Thursday, and her father died on Friday. Can you say Worst Thanksgiving Ever for her entire family?
*Dear Native Americans: As a white person, I have to say that I'm sorry white people suck so much. That first Thanksgiving was thanks to your kindness, generosity, and knowledge of survival in the Americas. I don't know when or why we decided that we couldn't just coexist and instead returned the favor by destroying so many of your people.
**My mom is so totally awesome for always participating and including us in these small acts. No matter how badly off she was, she has always found a way to give to others. There have been many holidays where she's apologized for cutting back on our gifts (which are still a-plenty) because she went "overboard" on the other family that year. I think this year I might get some friends together and do something like this, too. It not only taught us that it's important to help others, but that other people are valuable and worth something, even if they are at a bad point in ther life.
***Dear Friends from High School: It totally freaks me out that you are having kids.
posted by Silver Turtle at
8:55 PM
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