If retail clerks refused to work the crazy hours and if people weren’t so greedy, there would be no such thing as Black Friday.

     I worked retail for many years.  Black Friday is the worst day of the year.  I’m not sure when it started, but in my early retail years the day was like any other.

     Greed is the only answer to the question, why do they do it? 

     Back when I bought Christmas presents, decorated, and in general, let the retail world dictate my December, I did manage to finish my shopping long before November and December rolled around. 

     Quite a few years ago, The Curmudgeon and I decided that if a holiday created too much pressure to allow one to enjoy it, why bother?  It’s not as if the season were a favorite for either of us.  Mostly it reminds us of lost family.   We’ve both had too many family deaths at this time of year.  I’d just as soon skip from here to mid February.

     These days I only buy or make one ten-dollar gift for my dearest friend of 38 years for her celebration and because she loves this time of year. 

     The Curmudgeon and I buy things we want, when we want them, instead of waiting for a holiday to come around.  We don’t decorate, I stopped baking ridiculous amounts of unneeded sweets, and we’ve found that we enjoy it this way.