The Hype of Black Friday

Let me see if I can understand the thrill of shopping on Black Friday.  I can stay up and go shopping for bargains at midnight, or I can get a few hours of sleep, and shop at stores that open anytime between 4:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M.   I will have to stand in line for hours in the dark and cold with a few hundred other people waiting for the doors to open.  Once they do, a mad rush will begin for the 3 televisions or computers that are incredibly discounted.  Of course I won’t get one of those deals, but now that I am in the store, let’s see what else I can find.  This is the hype of Black Friday.  It is a day I don’t shop.

I appreciate a bargain as much as anyone.  I like deals and coupons.  I rarely pay full price for anything, and usually wait for sales.  Sales are going to offered from now until the holidays.  They will continue after the holidays as well.  Why people are willing to camp out days ahead of time is baffling.  To wade among crowds on what should be a restful weekend is surprising.   To force people to work on what once was a day that stores were closed is unfair.  The retailers claim that it is the public that want these hours, but if they weren’t offered, they wouldn’t be outside waiting in those lines.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  It is a day that family and friends gather and share a nice meal.  It is a time to reflect on our blessings.  This has been a hard year for many American families.   For every advertisement for a store sale, there is a story about food pantries that are trying to meet the demand of a Thanksgiving dinner.  The focus of the day should be on what we have, not what we can get.   Health, family, food, a job, and happiness, cannot be taken over by thoughts of materialism.  Let us remember the meaning of the day as it was meant to be.  Gather with group of people, maybe watch the  parade, and have a nice meal together.  Enjoy what money can’t buy and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

9 Days, 8 Nights. It Wasn’t a Vacation.

 On October 30^th, a freak snowstorm hit the Northeast.   Since the trees still had leaves, the wet, heavy snow snapped many limbs and branches.  In some cases entire trees fell, and as they fell, down came the power lines.  Here in Connecticut, the damage was extensive.  Over 800,000 residences and businesses were left without electricity.  For many of us that meant no heat, water, or lights.   The first days were tolerable, but as time went on it became harder to stay warm, find water, and figure out what you could eat for each meal.  It has been over a week since the power has been restored.  Looking back there were some moments that were humorous, and others that became thought-provoking.

 These were the moments that I found humorous.   No matter how hard you look out the window, the utility truck does not appear.  You can finally justify why you kept that old shirt hanging in the closet for the past 15 years.   You found  listening to a show about coins on NPR quite entertaining.  You wonder how people with generators are able to sleep at night.   People told me that they had power, but were going crazy with no cable or phone.  I just smiled.

 These are the moments I found thought-provoking.  Water is a valuable resource.  I became obsessed collecting it.  I had buckets set up all around my house to catch water as the snow melted.  I filled other buckets with snow and brought it inside to melt.  Of course this took some time as the house eventually got down to 45 degrees.  Heat is something not to be taken for granted.  I found myself going out during the day with my 2 girls just to warm up.   You wonder how people who do not have heat are able to survive a winter.   It is extremely difficult to eat when your refrigerator is out, and you can’t use the stove.  I haven’t complained about cooking lately.

 My favorite comments on the outage came from the media.   A 75- year-old man called into a radio show and stated that at least we still had our houses.  He had a friend in the mid-west who lost his house to a tornado.  The radio host differed with him, but the caller was right.  Also, I can’t remember the number of times that people compared this storm to life in colonial days.  The question was “How did they do it?”   The answer?  Better than us.  Their life involved burning wood in fireplaces, and collecting water for drinking and cleaning.  They didn’t have cell phones or ipads to worry about, and communication flowed through the community.

 Lastly, I have to say I was surprised how well my children handled the whole ordeal.  They survived a week without television or the computer.  They played cards, checkers, colored, and read books.  They dragged out toys and made up their own stories.  They learned how to cope in a difficult situation, and were grateful when the power was restored.  It reminded all of us that we need to appreciate a roof over our heads, clean water, lights, heat and a life filled with comfort.  There will be times in life that will be challenging.  One week taught us that we can survive.

Be Back Soon

To all who wonder where I am.  I have been without power for a week.  I will have a post as soon as it gets turned back on.  Thanks for the concern.   Angela