Sunday, November 30, 2008

Commercialization

I flipped on the news Thursday night and was treated to a story on how others spent their Thanksgiving. The folks in question were camping out, in the parking lot of Best Buy in Indianapolis, ready to cash in on big savings on laptops and flat-screen televisions.

Happy Thanksgiving.

It's hard to imagine how the lure of bargains on electronics, no matter how tempting, can take the place of celebrating this holiday. Thanksgiving, in its quiet way, is one of the holidays I like best. With no particular religious affiliation, all Americans can take part. And it involves no gifts, no decorating, no over-indulgence of the commercial kind.

(Sure, it involves food - and a lot of it - but you can whip out a basic Thanksgiving turkey dinner without breaking the bank.)

Most importantly, the holiday, to me, is about being with family and friends, about remembering how fortunate we are, and celebrating this life we are so lucky to have. I can hardly imagine giving all that up to save a few dollars on shopping.

I did not grace the step of a single department or big-box store on Friday. I went antique shopping with my BFF, but otherwise enjoyed the day at home. I refuse to participate in the crass commercialism that has encompassed the day after Thanksgiving.

Which isn't to say I am anti-shopping - far from it. I'll do my share, but I'll do it on my own time, in my own way. It won't be at any hour before 8 a.m., and no frenzy will encompass me. It will be all about Christmas cheer, something I've plenty of.

25 shopping days til Christmas. In case you're counting.

1 comment:

Gale said...

I am so glad that my weekend was virtually shopping-free. Had to get stuff for Cookie Weekend, but that's just not the same as being at Best Buy at 4 a.m.