CROWDS, SHOPPING AND BLACK FRIDAY
I'm thrilled and excited to be a member of Not Your Usual Suspects blog and to be part of the 12 days of Christmas blog. The Christmas holiday is probably my favorite time of year. Starting around Thanksgiving I'm stoked for all the merriment and excitement that comes. I'll usually take off the entire week of Thanksgiving (vacation from the day job—yeah), in preparation for the holidays. All the cooking, baking, putting up and decorating the tree—all of these things start my heart racing. It's getting ready for that all important day, the day after Thanksgiving. Not for the leftovers, although that's probably my favorite part of the meal (I love eating turkey and all the trimmings the next day), but Christmas shopping.
Black Friday. Now I know for most people the thought of Christmas shopping can have them breaking out in hives. All the crowds, the noise, the pushing and shoving. Any other time of year, shopping is not my favorite past time. In fact, most times I can truthfully say going to the mall ranks up there a trip to the dentist. But for some inexplicable reason that one shopping day after Thanksgiving tells me Christmas is close.
Getting up when it's still pitch black outside. Bundling up in warm sweaters and coats because you know it's gonna be freezing outside (although sometimes here in Texas freezing is a relative term—it drops into the 50s here and it's considered frigid). Then we all pile into the car and head for the stores. Jam packed, bumper to bumper cars line the parking lots. Driving round and round waiting for somebody to pull out, so you can snatch that spot, one space away from the very back corner of the lot, but inside you're shouting, WhooHoo!! I got it.
Then we head inside the store and start milling around, looking for the perfect gifts for each person on your list. Sometimes I can find it right away—I know just what I'm looking for. Other times, something will surprise me and wind up being the perfect present for that somebody special.
Christmas shopping on the other days following Black Friday is still fun and exciting, but nothing is quite like the rush you get that first morning after Thanksgiving, knowing Christmas is just around the corner.
Writing suspense, in my case romantic suspense, like most writing in general can be a solitary endeavor, being isolated away from friends and family for long stretches of time while you pour your heart out onto the page, trying to make sure that your "whodunit" is filled with intrigue, excitement, drama, where ultimately the villain is caught and the hero and heroine have a satisfactory and happy ending. Most of the time I'm fine with the self-imposed solitude. But for this one special shopping day, being around the noise and the crowds, the hustle and bustle, just spells out the holidays for me.
As my special holiday gift, one person who leaves a comment will get a copy of my Carina Press romantic suspense with paranormal elements, Desperate Choices.
Wishing you the warmest and best holiday—may your shopping be plentiful and may you find everything you're looking for.
Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry
More Popular Posts
-
**Giveaway over*** Y'all know I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my readers. I used to attend a lot of writer conferences but I always made su... -
Despite the glut in recent years of everything from knitting mysteries to miniature car racing mysteries, the cozy or (preferred term) tradi... -
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm mad for vintage mystery. There are certain dusty and cobwebbed tropes that I still find amusing, out ...
-
Hold on to your Liberty scarves, everyone. Guess what? I just realized I have at least five things in common with my favorite TV and book d... -
It’s been a long time since I wrapped up a series--2011’s The Dark Tide , to be precise--but I’m currently writing the final book i...
14 comments:
I'm out there, too, before the sun comes up for all those great sales. DH calls me the Shopping Ninja because I manage to get such deals!
My favorite part of Black Friday is that moment you sit down somewhere with all your bags in tow...and eat! Somehow that meal, even if it's simply a cup of coffee and a donut, is PERFECT! You are off your feet. The coffee warms you up. You sit and chat about your purchases and plans for the holiday season. It's a magical moment. Thanks for bringing it to light, Kathy.
Everything is so bright and cheerful this time of the year-yes Kathy-a perfect time to shop. Although, I must admit, this year books, eBooks and DVDs were purchased via my computer. but it's to the shops for flannels and slippers and the perfect "cup of coffee."
I used to shop in the malls, now I shop online. But I do like to take a least one trip to the mall to see Santa with my toddler. My older son loved to sit on Santa's lap, but my toddler only wants to gaze from afar. Great post, Kathy, and happy holidays to all!! :)
Oh, that's way too many people for me... I prepare ahead of time, figuring out the perfect gift for each of the people on my list, then I swoop down on the store, ninja-like. In and out within minutes, sanity intact. Well, what's left of it, anyway.
I can cheerfully confess that the only reason we might end up at a store on Black Friday is to deliberately, and with great forethought, stand right in the way. :)
Well, that and the people watching.
You're a brave woman. I do all my shopping online. Well, 95% of it, Then if I venture out into the madding crowd, it's just for fun stuff like lunch with the nieces and nephews or a movie with the SO.
I haven't experienced Black Friday. I'm not big on malls and prefer online shopping. I do like to wonder around the mall when it isn't packed with miserable souls. I like smiling at people--even the ones who don't smile back. It gives me pleasure even if they think I'm a loon. I do love the lights though. And I do like to people watch :)
Oh, you brave soul. I love to look at the beautifully decorated shops and I adore the twinkling lights and the festive music, but I only want to 'look'. I do most of my shopping online. Sad but true.
I love wandering through it all, but I never actually buy anything. :)
I'm surprised that so many of you do the majority of your shopping on-line. I think that's turning into the way a lot of people are shopping these days. I get that, too. I will order some things on-line, things that are hard to find items or if a store is out of a particular thing I'm looking for, but I like that first holiday rush that comes for Black Friday Morning.
Then stopping to prop up your feet as you sip coffee or hot cocoa and grumble about how crowded every store is, all the walking, the blasting Christmas tunes playing through the speakers, all these things bring Christmas to mind.
I must confess that I hate to shop, which is why I do the majority of my shopping online. If I do go to the mall, it's usually with a friend or family member who needs to get something.
I spent black Friday in my pjs.
Just sayin'
And the lucky person who gets a copy of Desperate Choices is . . .
Chrissymunder.
Chrissy, if you'll drop me an e-mail at www.kathy@kathyivan.com and let me know what format you'd like your e-copy in, I'll get it right out to you. Congratulations and happy holidays.
Kathy
Yay! I'm so excited I found this blog!
Kathy, I don't share your enthusiasm for shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but anyone who is positive during this season is okay in my book! Have a wonderful holiday!
Post a Comment