Black Friday

The tree to the left is one we had in our home in Augusta, Wisconsin.  The live (formerly live, actually) tree was cut down on a friend's acreage each winter as a family tradition.

The days of live trees in our home necessitated setting up the tree and lights about two weeks before Christmas, so it wasn't part of my "Black Friday" routine like it is now.

Since moving from the house big enough so the tree was almost the only thing in the room, we now have smaller and un-live trees as decorations at Christmas.  That means, I set them up the day after Thanksgiving while the rest of the family shops.

My job is to set it up and put the lights on the tree, and outside on our balcony railing.  The choosing of ornaments is not left to me, that is where the expertise of others come in to play.

What's your "Black Friday" tradition?

Before it was known as such (yes, there was a time it was known as the day after Thanksgiving), when I was young, my family would get in the car for the trip to Milwaukee for a day of Christmas shopping.

I recall getting there when the stores were opening their doors, bright and early at 9am.  Stores didn't open insanely early back then, and while it was a bustling day of shopping it wasn't quite what it is now, when it sometimes features hand to hand combat!

We started in the Boston Store, went to Gimbels, and then other stores on the city's Grand Avenue.  Lunch was always at the Big Boy restaurant, where I would eagerly enjoy a Chocolate Ice Cream Soda with my burger and onion rings.

When we had finished downtown, carefully checking off our lists of what we were buying and for whom they were intended, we'd get back in the car and go to the Brookfield Mall just west of Milwaukee.

There we would see Penney's and Walgreens (where we would have supper in the luncheonette).  It seems to me they featured special holiday glasses each year that became part of our tradition to collect.

From there, it was time to go home, our shopping done, gifts ready to be wrapped and placed under the tree.

As the boys got bigger, and "Black Friday" became more of a participatory sport, my wife would take them out for some of the early morning door-busting deals.  Now that those doors are opening during Thanksgiving Day... they are more likely to pick and choose the target stores (or the Target Store).

"Black Friday" is the day stores hope to sell enough to get into the "black" for the year.  As more stores open on Thanksgiving, it may be referred to as that color by employees who prefer to have a day off.

My suggestion as you battle your neighbor for the last Furby (I was surprised to see those are still being sold), that when you get to the check out counter give the person a smile and a friendly  greeting... it will make their whole day.

It will also help you share those feelings of gratitude that you basked in yesterday and pass them along to your fellow man and woman.

Happy Shopping!