Black Friday

... so named because for many retailers, it became the shopping day that would determine if they turned their year's figures to profit, a.k.a. "in the black". I think of it more as a "wear black armbands and be desolate" opportunity. A tad dramatic, I know.

For the last 5 years or so, we've embraced the Friday after Thanksgiving as "Buy Nothing Day" which is basically a counterculture response to the mall mania that marks the beginning orgy of holiday shopping. According to my in depth research (Wikipedia) Buy Nothing Day was started by Vancouver artist Ted Dave in 1992 and is now celebrated in 65 countries as a day to protest mass overconsumption.

I know there are fabulous deals, at least 3 items of each advertised low low price, in big box stores across the continent - for those willing to shake off the turkey coma and stand in line at midnite. It's a toaster people; not U2 tickets. And folks being trampled! Seems like some sort of shopping mania crossed with "wilding" mob behavior. Perhaps if they had Valium salt licks at "Guest" Services... but no, thank you.

The only time I'm a little tempted on Buy Nothing Day is for things like movies, meals out, bowling - activities, mostly. Or if I'm in serious need of a decent latte. It's interesting how much consuming is so ingrained it literally brings me up short when I can't. Try picking up the kids from school/activities without your wallet sometime; same sort of eye-opening experience. Especially when you get rear-ended by some guy and have no documentation, just a cell phone, and a bunch of people who aren't answering theirs... but that is a tale for another day.