Why Are They Waiting??

Another Thanksgiving day has come and gone, but not without its stories, laughter, tears, curiosity and waiting.  Waiting for this holiday anxiously, not at all eager for it to arrive.  How would we be?  My side of the family has always celebrated this holiday the Saturday before to accomodate those in the family who celebrate with their inlaws on Thanksgiving Day.  This past Saturday has come and gone, and we survived, even with some laughter, low key hanging out, hugs and kisses.....more intenses hugging, and we all know why.  Having our Thanksgiving the Saturday before gives us more time to just BE.........no hurries or worries.....no waiting for arrivals.....we're able to just BE.

As the month of November arrived, it brought about many memories of the past along with the memories of today that we were going to make.  Those memories of past are bittersweet because they included my sister. So glad that they were a part of my memory; yet, sad that they were only a memory.  Sad that the new memories to be made would not include her physical presence.  Sad that her children would make those new memories without her, and perhaps thoughts of her would be fading in their minds.  That's a tough pill to swallow when you want to keep her alive.  We made it through, though.  We are still here, and all was good.

On a lighter note, we made our new memories.  Thanksgiving Day I still make a turkey for my own family with all its fixins.  Some of us gathered who have no other commitments with family, and again, we made it through, even with some smiles, especially when poking fun at some of Chrissy's ways and mannerisms.  We played our silly games, encouraging Frank to play, telling him what Chrissy would say to him in her own way using humor and acting out her sassiness, and we smiled.  We were able to smile and laugh with aching hearts, feeling what we feel and knowing to be true.  It is not about us, but we think of Frank and her children, managing in this new way, and hoping.... hoping they will be okay. 

My sister, Susie, had this idea to make a new tradition by being a part of the crowd that ventures out on Black Friday. Each year the advertisements to Christmas buying becomes earlier and earlier, and I am not one of those who enjoys the crowds or the buying at such a frantic time.  The sales are not worth the aggravation to me.  One time, many years ago I ventured out to the toy stores early on Black Friday, thinking it would be fun, an adventure, and that I was ahead of the game, only to find frustration for a lack of finding the items and/or sales that I was looking for and fighting the lady next to me for a cart.  I swore I would never do that again.  Many make it a tradition of their own, this early buying, literally early buying, and I am not an early riser except by necessity.  The kids have to go to school, and I must get them there.  So Susie had this wild idea for Cassie, her and me to make a new tradition.  We must do this for ourselves; make these new traditions because the old ones are not the same without her.  Now as I said, the times become earlier each year, and this year some of our stores opened up late on Thanksgiving Day, and wouldn't it be great to take advantage of those sales?   Cassie and Susie left my house after dinner late in the evening and said that they would be back in an hour to pick me up for the 10:00 opening of one of our infamous toy stores.  They would head up to Susie's house, which is within walking distance from mine, laying down Lucy, and the men would take care of the homestead while we headed out to the wild.  Susie and Cassie were so proud of themselves as they returned, zipping into my driveway around 9:30.  We would arrive early for the outstanding bargains....and that infamous toy store is about 10 minutes from my home.  We're chatting in the car, laughing, thinking of all the bargains that we would take advantage of, but of course, I was out there many years ago, and I saw the crowds and knew what we would be up against.  Cassie and Susie were novices, and eager to take advantage of the bargains, not really knowing about the craziness.   We approached the traffic light before our destination, and I gasped!  Yes, I gasped, as I saw the sea of cars in the parking lot.  Cassie and Susie looked over as well when they heard mme gasp, and all they could say was, "I can't believe it!?   What are people buying?  Who are these people?  No way!"   The line had formed from the front door of this store and traveled along the lengthy,long sidewalk and wrapped itself around to the edge of the street.  As my spirited sister, Susie, entered the parking lot, she continued to say, "What are these people after???"   We were going for the excitement, the gawking and perhaps to find a bargain or two....but there was no getting into this store in the near future.  We all agreed that we weren't crazy enough to stand in this enormous line, in the cold for ANY toy.  Even when they did open their doors, we would be waiting. There is a limit to the amount of people who could fit in this store. We started laughing as seas of people gathered like cattle to enter the doors of a toy store.  Our tummies were full, feeling relaxed and we were in shock that people really did this.  Our car was moving at a snail's pace with lines of cars in front of us when my sister decides to roll down her window,  and she wants to ask someone what they are buying.  I begin to hover down in my seat;  knowing any minute that this huge crowd could lose lose their cool and go wild, and I don't want them  charging the car.  Drunken moms and grandmas are hovering the parking lot from the day's festivities, and my sister is yelling out the car window to anyone who will pay attention, "What are all of you buying????"  We finally reach the front of the line, God knows how early they arrived to get there, and again Susie yells, "What are you buying???"   I break down in gutteral laughter, as the three of us mock the individuals who do this.  "We'll start our own tradition.  We'll drive around to all these crowds of waiting people, with our hot chocolate and toasty cars, and yell from our car."    That will be our new tradition, gawking at the seas of crowds who stay up late or wake up early to find these so called bargains.  Earlier in the day, we talked about control and "the man" who sticks it to the tax paying people.  Definitely, I believe these stores lure people in.  I'm not convinced that the bargains are worth the waiting.  Why are they waiting?  I realize for many that this waking up early or heading out late with their families or friends is a tradition, but  for me, I prefer to make those traditions from the warmth of my car.  We agreed that while they are waiting, our new tradition would be to gawk at all the crowds, with food and beverages of course, in our own car.  Chrissy for sure was laughing with us. 

As we drove around to other stores gawking and laughing, tents erected.....we looked in disbelief.  We've heard these stories on the news before, people doing this, waiting, even losing their lives over this thing, this idea of waiting and finding the bargains.  It's a sight to behold, and while they were waiting in the cold, I was laughing from the warmth of my sister's car with people I loved.  Perhaps the cold and waiting were worth it if they were with people they loved.  Perhaps that is why they were waiting.

Happy Black Friday!