THANKSGIVING VERSUS BLACK FRIDAY 2017

The following is an editorial and all links were active at the time this was posted.

I hope everyone that tried to celebrate had a nice Thanksgiving Thursday, even if you wound up having to work.

The over-hyped Christmas retail season seems to grow bolder every year; with signage out in stores before HALLOWEEN and a lot of businesses opening even earlier than they used to to start "Black Friday" promotions, if they even bother to close for Thanksgiving anymore.

TWO different retailers started their sales events within an hour of each other at 5 and 6 pm respectively yesterday. The one that opened at 6 soon started receiving complaints from customers about running out of sale merchandise before the clock struck midnight to officially make it Friday!

Meanwhile, overnight crowds were so bad that police in Birmingham, Alabama actually CLOSED the Riverchase Galleria Mall to prevent further problems!

Once upon a time, the earliest a store opened on the Friday after Thanksgiving was 7 AM, because they were fully closed on the holiday!

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time where one pauses with their family and friends to reflect upon their blessings, the positive things in life, and all they have to be thankful for.
Granted, that's something human beings need to do more than once a year, but I guess those that have to work should at least be thankful they have a job, even if many of those same employees are seriously being taken advantage of; regardless of how many jobs they have to work to attempt making ends meet.

As for me, my position of years' past still stands.
I will shop and support local businesses on "Small Business Saturday", and let my fingers do the walking on more major purchases via the Internet on "Cyber Monday" next week, but as for "Black Friday", may I represent this brief ode to the event...


SOME DARE BRAVE THE GLOOM OF BLACKEST NIGHT,
QUESTING FOR BARGAINS UPON THEIR TREK,
TO HIT EVERY SALE BEFORE DAYLIGHT.

ME? I PLANNED WELL AHEAD.
NO NERVES, CREDIT, OR CAR SUFFERED WRECK.
JUST RESTFUL SLUMBER WITHIN MY OWN BED.

I sincerely hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and remembered to thank the only ones who should of worked yesterday: those brave men and women in law enforcement, fire prevention, the medical profession, and the military keeping the country and the world safe.
And if you're in retail and had to work on Thanksgiving, you have my sympathy.

The above was an editorial and all links were active at the time this was posted.