RYAN MORGAN — Managing Editor
Most American families do the same thing every year for Thanksgiving. They serve up the turkey and mashed potatoes, watch some football, take a nap and eat a slice or two of mom’s fresh apple pie. Last Thursday started off like any other Thanksgiving day, until my cousin asked me to go Black Friday shopping with her.
I’ve always wondered what the hype was but never gathered the courage to leave the house. I’d like to blame it on the pound of broccoli and cheese casserole I had just devoured or the three pieces of corn bread, but in that moment
I wasn’t in the right state of mind and agreed to the adventure to find toys for her kids.
We pulled into Toys R’ Us before 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Over a hundred people were already waiting to get in the store when it opened at nine. The blue Geoffrey the Giraffe carts were all gone. Across the parking lot I spotted a local store’s lone cart. Walking over to it, I noticed another woman doing the same. I picked up speed and beat her to the cart. I was proud I’d won my first Black Friday battle.
Eventually, we made into the hallowed ground of the toy store. It was mobbed, but we made it in and got what we wanted. We waited less than an hour outside to get inside and in the cash register line. At this point, I was thinking Black Friday is easy. Why would people stress about it?
The next stop: Walmart. Again, we found a line outside just to get in the store. I figured it would go quickly like Toys R’ Us. All I wanted was to get inside and get the two-dollar waffle maker for my boyfriend. But the night went downhill from there.
Walmart let in approximately 25 people every 15 minutes.
Almost three hours later, we were in the store. I looked around and couldn’t find the deal I wanted so asked an associate
for help. They pretty much laughed in my face. There were no more waffle makers. My cousin and I browsed the store but didn’t find anything worth the three-hour wait before
heading home.
After sleeping for a few hours we headed to the mall, adding my younger sister to the mix. It was officially Black Friday and I was at the mall. It was overwhelming. The whole mall was on sale but there were so many people in stores it was difficult to walk. Again, I didn’t find many deals worth the hassle.
By the time I got home Friday night, I was tired, agitated
and my bank account was depleted. Everything I bought could have been easily bought from home in the comfort of my pajamas. I saw a video online of a riot at some other Walmart over the waffle maker I had wanted so badly. Most would vow to never do it again after my experience, but honestly
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’ll always remember my first Black Friday experience and can’t wait to see my cousin’s kids play with their Christmas
presents. I made friends with strangers and heard their crazy stories while waiting to get in Walmart. When all is said and done, I can’t wait to brave the craziness again next year.
Maybe I’ll even get a waffle maker.
