An F in US History and Tales of Shopping Chaos

We participated in our family Thanksgiving, which was actually a learning opportunity for all of us.  What we learned about our own culture was how few of us could actually explain why we celebrate Thanksgiving and its history.  Through a group effort, our story involved pilgrims, Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea and Christopher Columbus.  We were confused about the names of the ships because even though the Mayflower seemed like a familiar name we could not remember what that had to do with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.  The most reliable version came from our 6 year old niece the worst came from our teenage niece and nephew.

I decided to show N firsthand the INSANE American tradition of Black Friday shopping.  After we finished stuffing ourselves with turkey we all loaded up to go shopping.  Some stores were opening at 10 PM and we had to get started.  N was very excited about this unusual activity and the chance to buy Nike products.  We went to the outlet mall and began shopping.  N bought five pairs of shoes and literally ran around the mall waving his credit card and kissing it. 

We left the mall at 12:30 am and got in line at Target to await their 4 am opening.  I had never participated in this myself so it was new for most of us.  There was nothing we actually even wanted to buy; we just wanted to experience the insanity.  So we waited in the cold and followed to mad crowd as they rushed into the store.  It was everything I had heard it would be; chaotic, hostile, exhausting, and crazy.

We wandered around the store taking in the madness and bought a few things (that we surely could have bought later in the day without the rush).  We called it quits at 5 am and went home to get some sleep.  After sleeping most of the day, N said that black Friday shopping was so much fun and would we do it again.  The answer is absolutely not.