Zoo by definition is “a park or an institution in which living animals are kept and usually exhibited to the public.”
I have another definition for Zoo:
SHOPPING ON THURSDAY NIGHT (THANKSGIVING) OR FRIDAY (THE DAY AFTER).
How do I know? I went to the zoo as a favor to several womenfolk in my family. You know that statement we often say: “I will never do that?” I have said that before concerning hunting shopping either of those two days and I BROKE MY OWN RULE! Well…all I can say is
I WILL NEVER…AND I MEAN NEVER…SHOP AGAIN ON THURSDAY NIGHT OR ANY TIME FRIDAY.
I’m not even sure Zoo covers it. Insane asylum works. Pure bedlam works. Safari even works. I gotta tell you that other than being with my wife, daughter and grandson, there was nothing that would ever EVER get me to do that again! The line in Super Wally World wound from the cash registers all the way back to the electronics (and they are notoriously slow). Just trying to get through the store was like taking my life in my hands. I parked a mile away (but was the good guy by dropping the family off at the front door…pat on back well-deserved). The line at Kohls…well let’s just say I waited in the truck for 35 minutes (and they are pretty fast). There were people following shoppers out to their car just to get their cart. I was really proud of my grandson. An iPad or iPhone and he was a happy camper and never once complained. Other than family, the bright spot of the two days was lunch at Max & Erma’s on Thursday and Chilis on Friday. Both had good food and were relatively unhurried. And surprisingly empty. Just the way I wanted it. 🙂 My one great shopping experience was Performance Bike shop on Friday. Hmmm…I was the only one who enjoyed that one. Wonder why that was?
It is easy to see how retailers, cashiers, etc might tend to get a little testy. If I had to look at that many people fighting, shoving, being harried, I might want to say, “Get a life people! Go shop online!” It is also why the naysayers and boo birds and grinches come out this time of the year. Normally sane people turn into lunatics. Cool, calm and collected people fight over the shirt with the peace sign.
Me? I was glad to get away from it all. Part of me just wants to scream; part of me wants to cry. I see so many people who may have no clue what the Christmas season is really all about. I think what shopping I plan to do I will either do online or buy gift cards, and then curl up with a good book or movie.
Did you experience any of this? Any thoughts?
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I won’t go out to the stores on those days either. What an ugly portrait humanity paints of itself in such situations. Like rats on a sinking ship climbing and clambering all over themselves. At times like this, I am glad that I don’t have any friends …. wait, that argument is weak. For the right person, I guess that I would too climb on that sinking ship. Cheers.
it was like a teaming sea of humanity for sure. I would not do it for myself but was willing to do so for my family…once. 🙂
While I wish Amazon shipped stuff overseas to Ukraine (because there were some AWESOME deals on Friday), I am glad that we don’t have that crazy-shopping day. I like shopping, but only when I can go around, without hurry, and without too many people crowding all the space and fighting for something they don’t even really need.
And I would readily join you in curling up with a book or movie 🙂
Normally it is fairly easy-going for the shopping. this is an abnormality. key is they are fighting for something they don’t need. You pinned it right there.
I have never participated in Black Friday.
i wish I could still say that.
We went to the grocery store and Goodwill on Black Friday. That was more than enough. We drove by a mall and several of the big box stores on Friday. I had a much better time geocaching with my family than I would have had in the zoo (I mean shopping).
Geo is big around here with all the state parks. sounds like fun if you have a young family. Thanks for stopping by Jon.
I don’t like shopping even if I am the only person in the store. I’ll add this to my list of reasons for being a confirmed batchelor.
🙂
Never have I “black Fridayed”.
I hate crowds and lines on a “normal” day.
Wise man. 😀
I have never been shopping on black Friday and I don’t have any intention to start. Juli manages a Petsmart so unfortunately she had to be at her store Friday morning.
The only thing I’ve considered is pulling up a chair in WalMart with popcorn and just watching the madness. But I haven’t done that yet either 🙂
That alone would be worth the price of admission. You could even name the animals.
I have never participated in black Friday. Never understood it either from a consumer standpoint. I am blessed to be married to a woman who doesn’t like to shop.
The consumer / materialistic side of Christmas used to really bother me – even to the point of wanting to celebrate Christ’s birth at a different time than 12/25.
Then I decided that if I didn’t participate in that mindset that it shouldn’t bother me that others do. That helped – but it is necessary to avoid stores on black Friday no matter what the “deal” is.
Good perspective Jim…on both the materialistic side and the “black Friday” side.
I’m too old too say “I’ll never do that,” but I sure hope I never have to do that! I’ve been lucky or blessed so far to be able to avoid it.
When humans act like animals, living on purely instinct it makes me nauseous. There is nothing in those stores worth selling my honor for… I wouldn’t even fight over a Bible if someone else wanted it… since I know what God’s Word says inside it…
“Calm, cool and collected people fighting over a shirt with a peace sign on it…” Too funny, Bill. That’s how enlightened the lost world really is.
i once said, “Never” too. Oh woe is me. I am forever tainted! I agree with the honor thing. Ain’t worth it. Glad you caught my not-so-subtle attempt at humor. 😛
I didn’t go shopping any, but I actually wanted to go just to see how crazy it really was. But there’s always next year, I guess.
And the next and the next and the next. Take it from me…it isn’t worth even seeing the craziness.
It would have to be a life or death situation for me to shop on those days. I went the day before and there was crowds of people just checking out what they wanted to buy on Black Friday. But finishes my Christmas and kept my sanity. Met a lovely lady in line who I got to witness too…made my day. Actually I wanted to jump upon the check out counter and start preaching on preferring others but I restained my self since I knew my husband would not like paying to get me out of jail. Most of what is bought will end up in a yard sell in the summer and thats when I do my best shopping. I will stop replying to this post before I offend others.
You are a courageous man my brothers who loves his family beyond the normal. Now that I think of it I would do it for my family…I am just praying they never ask me.
Love that you took the time to talk to someone and shared Christ with them. That is cool. I am praying next year will be different. I may be rebellious enough to say, “NO! Here are the keys!” 🙂
Bill…you know how I feel. Once you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall! 🙂
Oh Jay…groan! lol
God bless you, Pastor Bill, for going above and beyond, for your loved ones! I do most of my shopping online and all throughout the year, if I can. I can think of once when I went out for something we needed, on Black Friday, forgetting what day it was. oops!
Does that mean I get an extra blessing? 🙂 Online is the way to go these/those days.
I am not fan of shopping. I am not a fan of crowds. You will never see me in a store on Black Friday. Never. 🙂
Be careful. Be very careful Eileen of using that “N” word.
Shopping is fine by me, but I don’t want to get out in that craziness. My wife didn’t even brave it this year. It gets crazier and crazier it seems. No thank you! Settling in with a book or movie sounds pretty good though. 🙂
Sounds like a smart wife. 🙂 I think I may have to start a book/movie club. Oh wait…that has already been done.
I chose to work on that Friday, and other than food and clothes, I rarely ever shop at the store. I like the on-line life, less mean people crashing into me. My daughter and her boyfriend did spend the night at Walmart waiting for a tv to go on sale at 5AM. He had to work with me leaving at 6:15 am. I had fun watching him struggle through the day. 🙂 I hope he learned his lesson.
Oh man, that had to be fun watching him try to stay awake. Ain’t no way I am staying up like that. If I remember correctly, you work in retail. Right?
From Linda St. John: I love the Zoo, although I didn’t get to experience it this year Amy and I love going black friday shopping. I love people watching and never get upset over not getting what I wanted because most of the time I don’t really want anything but still love it.
I know you love shopping Linda, but loving the Zoo? Oh yeah, you live in one. 🙂
This is Linda’s first time commenting. She is an important part of OVCF.
This just makes me laugh, the thought of you out shopping on Black Thurs/Fri!!!:) I detest shopping of any sort, so I’ve never done this & hopefully never will. I am very happily the babysitter for Jonah so mommy can fight the madness. On a more serious note, this Christmas we have decided to just stuff the stockings for the 8 adult “children’ in our home and buy a few fun things for the 2 little grandsons. Playing “Santa” for a student too, decided that was much more in the spirit of Christmas than stockpiling gifts under the tree that will sit on a shelf, get lost or have no use after awhile. Love this post Bill.
I would have gladly stayed in with Braden but someone needed to drive the new truck. 🙂 Tough job but someone had to. Love what you and Michael have decided to do.