Then I tried to tell the story of Thanksgiving to them. Luckily, Cline woke up soon after to tell them the actual story of the first Thanksgiving. I had great intentions, but I'm pretty sure I started to go wrong when I heard half of a story on the radio yesterday and decided that should be my inspiration to bring meaning to this holiday. As it turns out, I am not so sure I was listening to what I thought I was listening to. And my history knowledge is lacking due to a lack of interest during my formal schooling years and a tendency (back then) to memorize facts for tests and never think of the information again. So, I have some work to do in the coming years, because I feel strongly that Thanksgiving is becoming so much about the turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie, and now the sales at Wal-mart, that we are completely losing sight of what the day is supposed to be about. I hope that in the years to come I can find simple and effective ways to remind myself why we have that day off of work and school and impress those lessons upon my children.
Which brings me to my not-so-black Friday this year. Here's the thing - I LOVE Black Friday. I mean, I really, really love Black Friday. It's not for everyone, but I can think of few things that are more fun than shopping from midnight to 10 a.m. with my mother in law while drinking Coke and eating sugar all night long to stay awake while feeling awesome about the prices I'm paying for Christmas presents I *need* for others. What could be more fun and selfless than that?? I love that I can do all of this in my sweats, with no makeup on, and it is a thrill to see friends I know out and about at 3 a.m. It sort of takes me back to 1 a.m. Waffle House runs in college. Never mind that I actually lose money on the deal most years because I often have to hire a babysitter since Cline works any given day of the year, and many of the items I buy aren't on sale. It is a rush to see how many stores we can thoroughly go through twice to make sure we have every item we want, to see how many DVDs we can buy for under $10, and to strategize our next move from pre-printed store maps while standing in 45 minute lines. Hey, I even love the challenge of getting a buggy full of stuff across 4 lanes of traffic because the huge parking lot was full and we had to park across the street! I love everything about Black Friday. My mother in law and I have gone every year for the last 6-7 years. I remember the year I was pregnant with Christa, sick as a dog, and trying to hide it from my mother in law by sipping on Ginger Ale and eating crackers in the car. As awful as I felt, I was not going to miss Black Friday! At this point, it's tradition, it's memories in the making, it's nostalgia, and it's just fun.
I'm not there this year. It's almost 11p.m., and the stores opened their doors about 3 hours ago. My mother in law was in line 5 hours ago and called to tell me she missed me. I could have gone. I had a babysitter lined up. I desperately wanted to go. But my heart sank when I saw that the sales started at 8 p.m. this year on Thanksgiving Day. I didn't feel great about going at 10 p.m. last year. I loved the days when it started at 6 a.m. on Friday morning and we got in line at 4. Midnight madness was OK - it was fun and different. 10 p.m. was getting a bit close to Thanksgiving, but at least the kids were in bed already, and I was just giving up sleep. I'd heard different schools of thought on whether it was "right" or "wrong" to support the companies that were "forcing" their employees to stock the shelves all day on Thanksgiving so we could shop that night. Some said that most employees got paid double and were clamoring for those shifts. That in this economy, they were just so grateful to have a job. Others argued that no one wants to work holidays, regardless of the incentive or job security. My husband, by nature of his profession, has to work holidays, so I can appreciate both sides of the debate. As I sit here tonight, I don't have an answer on the morality or lack of morality of Black Friday, now Gray Thursday. And there is no judgment whatsoever here for any of my friends who are standing in line right now. I just know that I, personally, didn't feel like I was doing an awesome thing for humanity last year going at 10. And going at 8 this year would have meant rushing through dinner with my parents and missing out on putting my kids to bed. To add to the growing sense of disgust I had with myself about it, I felt certain that next year the sales will start at 6 p.m. and then 4 p.m. and on and on until the time set aside to be thankful for the things I already have completely disappears.
So, this year, I decided that for me, a line had been crossed. So many things in my life tempt me away from things I know I should be doing. I check Facebook when I should be coloring with my girls. I read political blogs and articles when I should be lifting my questions and concerns up in prayer. I send a quick text message when I should be listening attentively to the story my husband is telling me about his day at work. I make room for more clothes and toys and things that "are a good deal" when we have so much more than we need already.
I had a great day with my parents, aunt, uncle, cousin, husband, and daughters today. I watched Pa play in the leaves with the girls. Christa and Abby Kate and I colored Thanksgiving pictures with markers and played doll house/castle. Christa and I baked cookies and Toffee bars for Cline's family Thanksgiving tomorrow. I had a semi-leisurely dinner at my parents house, in between drink spills and chip refills, but I was not constantly checking the time so I could get out the door. After I got home and bathed all 3 girls, I rocked Elizabeth while the older two played downstairs. I sat with her for much longer than usual, rocking her, hugging her, and thanking God over and over again for the abundance of blessings in my life.
Truthfully, I am a little sad to not be at Wal-Mart right now. I'm not missing the deals or the stuff at all, but I am missing the experience and quality time with my mother in law. Still, I wouldn't trade it for those precious moments of holding and rocking my youngest daughter. I don't know if I will go next year or not; I guess it depends on what the stores decide to do and how much will-power I can muster up two years in a row. But I don't ever want to do something good at the expense of what is best. And while I fail at this daily, I am trying to tear myself away from things that are a lot of fun and replace them with the things that really matter the most in the long run.
Happy Thanksgiving!
By the President of the United States of America:
A Proclamation.
It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with his guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad, and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while he has opened to us new sources of wealth, and has crowned the labor of our working men in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of Freedom and Humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions.
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do, hereby, appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day, which I desire to be observed by all my fellow—citizens wherever they may then be as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do farther recommend to my fellow—citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of events for a return of the inestimable blessings of Peace, Union and Harmony throughout the land, which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
[L.S.]
Done at the city of Washington this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty four, and, of the Independence of the United States the eighty—ninth.
By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H SEWARD Secretary of State.
(http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=1086)
No comments:
Post a Comment