One minor annoyance . ..
So, it's the day before Thanksgiving, when we should be focusing on giving thanks for everything that we already have . . . so why is today's "Writer's Block" prompt about SHOPPING? Sure, I enjoy getting gifts for people I love, and I hope retailers do well this season and everybody gets to keep their jobs, but the whole "Black Friday" consumer frenzy just seems like an indicator of a sick society.
Glossing over a holiday devoted to gratitude in an adrenaline-fueled rush to get on with a pseudo-holiday devoted to the manic marketing and acquisition of more "stuff" shows some seriously messed-up priorities.
Here's one alternative: https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd The young'n and I will probably not go that far--we're likely to make a quick food co-op stop to pick up ingredients for some home-made treats. But not until after a good long hike outdoors as far away from the malls as is possible on half a tank of gas.
My husband will be spending the day in a locally-owned classic toy and game shop because that's where he works. Best Buy (sponsor of that writing prompt--big surprise) would probably be baffled to hear it, but I don't think the store carries much of anything that plugs in or requires batteries, except maybe some of the light-up juggling equipment. If you must get caught up in the commercialization of the holidays, there's something to be said for hitting local spots that aren't subject to nationwide marketing campaigns. You can find more fun and interesting stuff that'll be in use for a good long time, and avoid the insane crowds fighting to throw their money at some big corporation offering "deals and steals" on cheap imported electronics that are designed to be broken or obsolete before the next year is out, anyway. Don't get me wrong--I like playing with high-tech gadgets as much as anybody, but I find that I don't need all that many of them, nor do they have to be the very latest and greatest. Besides, I've got much more pleasant things to do on a family holiday than turning buying into a contact sport.
Glossing over a holiday devoted to gratitude in an adrenaline-fueled rush to get on with a pseudo-holiday devoted to the manic marketing and acquisition of more "stuff" shows some seriously messed-up priorities.
Here's one alternative: https://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd The young'n and I will probably not go that far--we're likely to make a quick food co-op stop to pick up ingredients for some home-made treats. But not until after a good long hike outdoors as far away from the malls as is possible on half a tank of gas.
My husband will be spending the day in a locally-owned classic toy and game shop because that's where he works. Best Buy (sponsor of that writing prompt--big surprise) would probably be baffled to hear it, but I don't think the store carries much of anything that plugs in or requires batteries, except maybe some of the light-up juggling equipment. If you must get caught up in the commercialization of the holidays, there's something to be said for hitting local spots that aren't subject to nationwide marketing campaigns. You can find more fun and interesting stuff that'll be in use for a good long time, and avoid the insane crowds fighting to throw their money at some big corporation offering "deals and steals" on cheap imported electronics that are designed to be broken or obsolete before the next year is out, anyway. Don't get me wrong--I like playing with high-tech gadgets as much as anybody, but I find that I don't need all that many of them, nor do they have to be the very latest and greatest. Besides, I've got much more pleasant things to do on a family holiday than turning buying into a contact sport.