I was just thinking…

Black Friday shopping makes me think of my mom. It was our thing for many years, especially when my daughter was small and toys were a big part of Christmas. After the Thanksgiving food was cleared away, we sorted out the ads from the newspaper and poured over them with our Christmas lists in hand. We compared prices, determined the order in which we would visit the stores, and what the must-haves were at each stop, ending in a plan almost as precise as a strategic military op. We would then part for the evening to reconvene in the wee hours the next morning.

When we arrived at the first store, the length of the line made no difference to us, nor did the weather. Rain, sleet, wind, freezing temperatures–we met them all with the same determination to acquire the items on our list. And we generally succeeded. We even learned to work the system. At one particular store, one of us would stand in the check-out line while the other shopped and then swap places. We were professionals!

I did all of my Black Friday shopping this year online. Quicker? Absolutely! Easier? Sure. But it’s not the same. And with mom gone, that’s probably okay, because it will never be the same. For two Black Fridays now, I have missed the excitement of perusing the sale ads and making shopping lists with her. I miss the early morning rendezvous outside “store #1” on the plan sheet. I miss the mid-morning coffee and progress check. Mostly, I miss my shopping buddy and the one who taught that me paying full price is for wimps.