I am welcoming November with open arms. And here are a few things that I have been thinking about when it comes to the month of November...
One of my biggest highlights of November is Friendsgiving. It is not necessarily a tradition with my friends yet, only our second year...however, I thought about the event the first chilly, fall day and now I cannot wait to get my friends together. The idea of friends gathering around a table to share, eat, laugh and enjoy each other is so warming to my heart.
Does anybody have that McRib app? The one that tracks which McDonald’s has the McRib? I have several friends that are obsessed. My husband is one of them. I, however, think that they are really thin and gross looking. Their ingredients? Subpar. Am I the only one that does not even want to try these things? I am probably just the weird one.
Black Friday. I used to love Black Friday. This is only my second in twelve years that I will not have to work on a Black Friday...and I miss it. However, the destructive openings that occur earlier and earlier cannot make up for what Black Friday used to be. I remember leaving Thanksgiving as a family and driving hours to the closest mall. After a nice hotel overnight, we were refreshed at in the JCPenney and Famous Barr parking lot for the 6 a.m. opening. We would spend a lovely day together with our free snow globes or reindeer ears. Black Fridays are some of my most joyous memories growing up.
As I entered into the workforce, I loved working Black Friday morning. Being there at 6 a.m. with my ray of sunshine for all of those customers. Helping that mother or grandfather buy the most perfect gift for their love one. The long hours were still full of happiness as I spent year after year spreading my joy all over the holiday weekend.
My last few years working retail, however, restricted my Thanksgiving family gatherings for the majority of our families. And now these Thanksgiving openings, never-closing stores...it is truly destructive to the holiday memories that was based on family and friends. Now it is about the credit cards, gift buying, and retail hours...who can open first, who can stay open the longest. I will not be out on Thursday and I will ask every person to do the same. I know there are some professions out there that have to work the holidays, and I thank them. The nurses and doctors and police officers...all of them. However, shopping for that needed toy can wait. Always, it can wait. I will be at the store on Friday, like it should be.
photo credit :: hb fotographie
photo credit :: Relish
photo credit :: Examiner
