what is wrong with this picture

Wall Mart store has injuries on Black Friday shopping
How after all the world has been through the last 10 years ,
can people trample each other ?
to save a few bucks to buy a present to celebrate a Holiday .
When did it become Black Friday
That it a ominous name to give a shopping day

shopping for love ones and friends should make you happy ,
not mean and greedy.
With out bringing in the religious side of the issue .
how can this happen ?
Holiday is suppose to be fun ? right ?

Yeah right....it used to be fun...now it's just "Gimmee, gimmee, gimmee!" That's why I stay home the day after Thanksgiving. ;-)

i always put tree up on Friday after thanksgiving no shopping '
the kids always wanted up about Halloween but i made them
wait till Friday after Thanksgiving .
i decorated the bottom of the tree with antique toys and dolls .
then i wrapped 5 packages for each child and lay them under tree
called kids in and they had to pick one of their gift
to take to the salvation army for the children with out presents .
i stay with them till they picked out one with out peeking
and off we went to deliver it .we also went to kitchen
and did same with groceries .
i wanted them to know no mater how slim it was at
home you shared because some had nothing to share
.Only lesson i taught them that stuck

They are passing it on to my grandkids and great grandkids.
it was a gift of love that keeps on giving

Wow, what a great message to give to your kids Tazzy. You are an inspiration to me.

I bet Black Friday was coined by people stuck working retailers during the big marketing frenzy. Ironically, the busiest day of shopping is actually the last Saturday before Christmas.

This message was edited Nov 26, 2005 1:45 AM

Well, the black in black friday is pertaining to these huge retailers having their first day of profit for the year. I really doubt that, but it's the excuse for the name. I bet Scrooge came up with that.
Sidney

Tazzy that is a wonderful tradition.

Yes Tazzy. Congratulations on this wondeful idea.

Tazzy, i love your tradition. Also, your pictures of yourself you have posted. I wish more people would post pictures on their info page.

Tazzy, It seems to me that you have one up on getting the important lessons across. Great tradition, hope it gets handed down throughout the generations.

I quit the "shopping" for Christmas about 10 or so years ago. I tell everyone not to get me a gift, lets go out and have a dinner and celebrate our family or friendship. I realize I couldn't do this if I had children, and neither would I want to. But as a single adult, it really works for me. I don't have to get into the frenzy of shopping, stressed out by what to get someone, but I do get to have some good times with "my people". I'm sure its works a bit for them too, I'm one less person on their list and they seem to enjoy our special get togethers in lieu of gifts.

Is This Heaven, I'm with you. NO Gifts, lets go out for dinner. I'm also single with no kids and what is left of the family is far away. We all agreed years ago to donate the value of our gifts to a favorite charity.
Andy P

For some reason DH wanted to shop that day but we went much later than most and it wasn't TOO bad. I wish we'd stayed home to put up the tree; he is so rarely home with more than a day at a time available.

He hates shopping, too - but we got a lot of things done and so that made him happy. The more stuff that is "done" with shopping the happier he is.

I personally LOVE shopping and finding just the right thing for someone I love... surprising them with something thoughtful they can love or use or wear... so I would miss gifts. But most of the rest of the people in my life don't like it so I am alone in my love of it.

The holidays are stressful for so many of us, too bad we can't find a way to refocus them on the love that started these holidays... and the thankfulness.

Tazzy, I love your idea too, you are a really neat person.
I went and looked at your pictures on the home page since someone mentioned it, and i will say something, you have great legs lady!
Josephine.

that is all that age hasn't taken away at 63' stil have my legs and sense of humor
thanks to Mom she had teenager legs till she died at 68
from the looks of pictures at local Wall Marts Black Friday here in town,
i am glad i did not go shopping . Some one might have ripped one of my legs off

I have a funny story from Fridays shopping. I have a friend who works at Walmart and they had two ladies fighting over a cabbage patch doll that was on sale. The department manager came over and took the doll and told them that we can not have people fighting in the store like this. One of the women had there little girl with them so the manager gave it to her. The little girl went yelling down the isle saying mommy mommy I did get one. It was nether of the woman's daughter. I laughed so hard when she told me this. Serves them right.

I love that!!!!! I bet that little girl thought she was the luckiest girl alive. So cool that story is!

I bet she did too. I just can't imagine what gets into people.

she got the doll and a priceless lesson in life with it
great story thank you for sharing

I agree that if you have children, alternatives to giving can be hard. But even with children who are starting to grow up some, this one can work: Each person, instead of giving a gift of clothing, a game or whatever, to another person, gives some money to a charity in the name of the person for whom they would have bought a gift.

On the shopping/gift-giving side, it has become easier to get gifts without getting stuck shopping. There are some very good bargains on eBay come this time of year. I ought to know; my wife has been selling toys on eBay at bargain prices and is doing purty well.

Just so long as one orders early enough, stuff has plenty of time to arrive in time for Christmas.

I used to work for a company that sold toys via mail order, and we had a few rather dumb people, who ordered ALL their toys from that ONE company. Then, if there was a mix-up or a lost package, or damage occurred, they'd call the company and read them the riot act. Didn't those people ever hear of not putting all their eggs in one basket?

Just some thoughts...

Or counting your chickens (Toys ) before they hatch (Arrive)

Tazzy...I love your tradition...Howie...what a laugh.

My DD went to Wal Mart (to save $80.00 on a DVD burner)....and the line was about a block long. Some people that got there first thought that they could go back and wait in their car, and still be first in line....other shoppers didn't see it that way and a fight ensued. The police were there and told the early birds to either go to the end of the line, or wait until last.

LOL JO

A:) I just bought a printer from wally world tonight (had to have a printer and they were the least expensive in town)

B:) I needed the printer awhile ago

C:) If they were giveing them away the day after Thanksgiveing - I would have still bought one today instead.

D:) I try to save on resources (cash on hand, fuel, power bills, Mother Natures Resources
(water, etc.)) - but i will not waste time in an unnecessary line for longer than I normaly
make in the same time to save what I have more than lost in the waiting.

E:) did that make any sense?

Yes.
;)

My mother used to have me and my five sisters draw each others names out of a hat, to decide to did what for each other that Christmas. And we had to MAKE it. So we only got 3 gifts. One from Santa, one from mom and dad, one from Santa (until we figured out he didn't exist). None of this crass commercialization of a scared holiday. I still cherish the things my mother ans sisters made for me.

Today, I have a huge family of in-laws with diferent traditions. So i start my holiday shopping in Jan and completely done before the Christmas stuff comes out in the stores. That was I can spend my Holidays enjoying myself and getting everything done (baking, cards, activities .. )without the STRESS.

Simplify, simplify, smiplify.

By the way, Wal-mart is always a nightmare. I only go there after midnight.

Christmas is Ruined for me.

I grew up in the generation that has known nothing but Hyperconsumerist Walmart Chistmases

I'm afraid to report that I care for niether Walmart nor Christmas. A little story; perhaps some of you will remember:

"A woman was trampled in the entrance to Walmart on her way to a cheap DVD player. She was sent to the hospital. As an apology, Walmart offered the DVD player to her, generously.- for half price."

The obligatory gift-giving thing is somewhere near evil in my perception. Walmart is Evil in or out of my perception. I've got a growing file-folder of terrible history putting Wal-mart on trail for some heinous doings. But back to the topic:

I hate to offend someone when I do not give them a gift. I remember as a kid (not too long ago) all the junk I recieved. Being just a kid, I enjoyed some of it, stashed the rest; but as I grew up, all of that stuff was a reminder to me that the family that sent me the stuff didn't really know me. (Judging from what they sent. Cheap art supplies... I had piles of sketchbooks and I still receive frog-themed junk...)
Now, I am aware that I need nothing and want little. I would feel guilty gifting useless things to my family and friends, and somedays I am made guilty that I hardly give anything to anyone. More junk to curse and clutter their lives... It is just so very odd to send someone a Card:

"Merry Christmas. It is my gift to you to give you nothing, but to tell you that you don't need any more material things. Isn't that wonderful? I hope you like this gift. Stop complaining about your wonderful life. Love, Kenton."


In Charles Dickens style, I would like to see the passport of The Christmas Spirit and know just where he came from...

Perhaps you can see why I do not like the Holidays at all (Halloween is bad for personal reasons). But I do enjoy the one-month Winter break, and life itself is awfully great. I apologize for the darkness, but perhaps a person could understand now, how someone (who is more attached to the world than I) could be suicidal this time of year (let us recall the telling statistics).

Life is Beautiful and Christmas is not.

Kenton

Kenton, I'm so sorry you are feeling bitter about Christmas. I do understand your sentiments, but I (perhaps because I am much older than you) am able to seperate all that from the true meaning of Christmas. Let the world have it's commercialism and greed. Just because it's out there, I don't have to participate in it. It tries to break my shell everyday, but I won't let it in.

I choose to keep Christmas pure, simple and Holy.

At the risk of sounding trite, Christmas is what you want it to be. Ask yourself what Christmas is really all about. Find out about the Christ child whose birth we celebrate. And then decide for yourself what you want to do with it. Ignore it, bash it, trash it. Honor it, embrace it, respect it....

It's your choice. You don't have to give anyone gifts, or feel guilty about it. You can recive a gift without expecting it to be what you want. That's a sure way not to be disappointed. Christmas shouldn't be about 'getting'. Make it about 'giving'. Make it about Joy.

It's not my intention to offend you. So please don't take it that way. I only want you to see that Christmas CAN be beautiful, if you want it to be.

JamesCo, I pretty much ignore Christmas. Yes there is another Grinch out there.
I'm also tired of storing unwanted gifts. I understand they are well intended but like you I don't need much and can buy it myself. But I no longer let it bother me.
My sisters and I have come to an understanding. Whatever monies normally used for each others gifts are donated to charity in each others name.
My friends and I exchange a lavish restaurant spread.
I will confess to buying my dog something, though. Sarah likes everything and has no storage problems.
Andy P

No offense taken. You are quite right.
Wow. I feel pretty terrible for having mowed right over it and I didn't even think about what it was supposed to be. That is pretty sad.

(I did not mean to put any emphasis on the my reception of gifts. I meant it not as 'I didn't get what I wanted,' but instead, 'I don't know these folks anymore.')
Anyone read the book "Less is More?"

I think it will take me some time to rebuild it in my head, as my immediate Christmas memories and correlations have nothing to do with Christ. That is very sad.

I'll start looking past all the Santas and looking for more Nativity scenes... I think it will be very difficult for not only me, but all others burned by it. Example: What is the very first object that one thinks of upon the utterance of the word: "Christmas." It ought to be Jesus.
It has just been easier to give up than to replace entire heuristics.

Thanks, "Nap;" I think I'll go dig up some cards...
Well, here's to the re-construction of CHRIST-mas! Long live the King!
Kenton

my three boys taught me how to love the things they bough
the three little fellows age 9, 6 ,3 went to neighbor hood junk store with there allowance and bought me some " well hooker shoes " and a dime store 1 caret fake diamond ring
when i i stared to open the package i noticed their little faces just glowing .
I put on a very good face and when i open it up i squealed with delight ,not because this was a hideous box of things but because the love in their eyes showed they thought they had bestowed me with a treasure ,
and they had it was from there heart and hard earned money
Now there grown and i never care what i get its the love i feel that they cared that counts
OH i wore those horrid shoes and ring Christmas day and we had company, but i wore them with pride they showed the gift of love which is what Christmas is about

That is cute, Tazzy. "It's the thought that counts..."

Andy: Ha! I'm not alone! Taking wisdom from dogs, (and yours is lovely) perhaps we should all gift food to eachother, eh?

It seems like it would be difficult to be the only (or one of a few) person(s) celebrating it properly. Two options: replace it or give it up? -and I know that my mother will, in fact, be offended if she does not recieve something.

My current plan is to appease those who need it and join Andy: "... I no longer let it bother me."

Since Christmas is lost, and no one day is safe anymore,( remember Easter?) then everyday should be celebrated in Christ instead. Now that feels right.

Kenton

Scratch Easter is Holiday (not mentioned in the Bible )
at our house its resurrection Sunday

My rules for gifts:
1) You can wear it
2) You can eat it
3) You can use it up
Things in these catagories make fine gifts. None of us needs more "stuff!"

Kenton, glad to make your acquaintance. As my son likes to say, "If I don't see you in the future, I'll see you in the pasture!"

Nap, That's a good one!!!!

This holiday season has been terrible for me, and I have been struggling for days, even weeks, with how I was going to face my 4 kids Christmas morning, with probably no presents, and maybe not even a tree. My DH isn't Christian, so he doesn't celebrate Christmas except to appease me. My oldest son understands that sometimes there are times in life that you cannot have all that you want, and the real meaning of Christmas. I hate to admit the truth, that I haven't taught my younger children the true meaning of Christmas, they know only the basics, but I justified that in my mind that their father and I being totally different religions, we would let them choose their own paths as young adults. I have struggled mightly with my faith the past few years, and still am to an extent. I read these threads and I want to cry. I have deprived my children with a gift, the most priceless gift of all, the gift of our Father's Love.

As I sit here, my bank account is in shambles, I have bought no Christmas presents at all, and do not have the means to do so. Having running vechicles and heating oil were much more important, I just hope I can make the little ones understand that. It isn't going to be easy, as the kids are 7 and 9 and 4, and the 9 yr old is mildly retarded, and is at about a 6 yr old's level, but I am going to have to try. I need to be thankful that we (for the moment) have a home, heat and food. But how to teach a child that only knows the commercialization of Christmas that, without breaking their hearts?
I am sorry to have rambled on so. I have had an extremely bad "season" so far this year. I an estranged from my mother, who was my best friend, and cannot make up with her, because of reasons beyond my control, my depresson is probably at the worst it has ever been, and a good family friend just passed away. I have to go to the funeral home tonight.

Thanks for listening

Janis

You have folks praying for you now. It sounds like you are aware of what is; that you have no illusions, which is more than can be said for most in a tough position. Continue to rely on the Lord, let him deal with it.
I was just reading something you might want to see in 1 Corinthians: 7: 12.
Kenton

Kenton, how you warm my heart! That's a passage I'm very familiar with, as it fits my own situation.

Woofens, you must ask yourself, what is it the Lord wants from you? Do what you know He would tell you to do, and leave the consequences to Him. If you stand behind Him, He'll stand behind you.

Chrismas falls on Sunday and a lot of churchs will be open that day

Kenton, Janis. This one is for you.
http://www.gospel-disco-network.co.uk/mary%20did%20you%20know.htm
Andy P