Accidental Blogger

It’s that time of the year again! When parking lots are packed tighter than sardine cans, people camp out in tents by the closed doors of the big box stores well before the dawn’s early light to proudly hail that all-American tradition more glorious than the flag – Black Friday.
Once, as a newbie to this country, every day I ventured into a shiny department store seemed like a dream come true, the ChristHanukkaKwanzaamas season especially. With all those glorious bargains to be had, who could resist going into get five of those cute digital clocks, or cd players, or radio controlled toys for suitcase stuffers.
Today, I look around my cluttered-with-stuff house and think "Not another shopping funfest again." I riffle listlessly through the gazillion shiny flyers promising Nirvana in a giftwrapped package. The mind darts here and there- Ooooh look a nice little pressure cooker for only $18.99, a pretty pair of simulated opal earrings for $24.99, turtleneck special for $4.99 apiece, Early Bird specials, Early Worm specials… Until I lift my eyes up and see the mess of purchases past spread all over the room.
Shoppers are at it as usual, doing their level best to prop up the American and Chinese economies. Good luck to them in their search for bargains.

I’ll take peace on earth instead, any day.