Monday, December 3, 2012

And So It Begins...

The mad dash for the Christmas finish line.  I have asked my co-workers to please remind me how much I love the holiday season.  I do.  I really do.  But, something has to be done about it coming earlier every year!  Wal-Mart starts the frenzy by putting out decorations in September.  Not to be outdone, the rest of the big box stores follow suit.  Where I work, we had the Grim Reaper across the aisle from Santa.  Kinda creepy!  I thought Christmas in July was a joke, but now it's not funny.

Silly me, I thought it was first Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Black Friday, then Christmas, then New Year's.  I happen to like that order.  Well, Black Friday has been moved up with Pre-Black Friday specials, but the worst to me is opening Thanksgiving Day.  It's shameless.  It's not even necessary.  Since Thanksgiving is a national holiday, why not pass a law that retail establishments be closed, period.  That way folks can be thankful for something other than they were able to find a parking place, jump a line waiting for the handful of "leader" products (the ones that lure you into the store, but will likely run out in a couple minutes), fight off would-be grabbers out of your cart, waiting in line to pay, then making it home alive.

I had to be at work at 4:30 a.m. Friday with folks waiting outside, albeit only a few, and though bleary-eyed, I did sell my first appliance at 5:02 a.m.  This could have been done just as easily at 8 a.m. (actually for me, easier.)  If everyone pushed back the time from the ridiculous to the sublime, people would still buy stuff.  The same goes for being open on Sunday.  I remember as a kid that one planned to get gas, food, whatever because everything was closed.  The argument that closing hurts the economy doesn't wash with me because a) the economy sucks anyway with them open on Sunday and b) if you are going to buy something, you will still buy it another day.  I sell appliances, right?  If you wanted a washer on Sunday and couldn't get it, would you just decide to live with a broken washer or would you get it Monday????  Nobody says, "Nope, if I can't get it Sunday, I'm just gonna forget about it!"

But I digress...those of us actually in retail don't enjoy the benefits of the Black Friday sales anyway.  By the time we get off, it's old news and all the good stuff is gone.  Or in my case, I went home and took a nap.  Perhaps that was a good thing as I can't pass up a "deal."

I am heading into Columbus to pick up a few things and hope to enjoy "Peace On Earth."  The last time I was in Macy's it looked like a war zone.  Then home to finish decorating and maybe make some cards or ornaments.  Perhaps I will put on TV one of my favorite videos about the "true meaning of Christmas."  It's "The Toy That Saved Christmas" starring the Veggie Tale gang.  I especially love the intermission song where Larry slams the door on the IRS agent...



Until next time, enjoy the season and be careful out there!  If you are staying in, I hope you will check out the other holiday-related posts up in the right corner index by subject page!

Gale


4 comments:

  1. You are right about all this holiday stuff. People just get way to carried away with the whole thing. Far as I've seen they sure don't have the spirit of what it means. :)
    Cher Sunray Gardens
    Goldenray Yorkie Puppies

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  2. I want to see The Toy That Saved Christmas, too!

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  3. Oh Cher, I went down expecting to accomplish a lot and all I wanted to do was get back home! I am shopping online!
    G

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  4. I am with you all the way on this one!! As your department neighbor I want a little more happy in our holiday to. I will serenade you with Christmas Carols every time I see you

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