Our television "news" shows and commercials are all full of "information" about sales on Black Friday. I'm not sure how many years ago this American "tradition" started and stores offered deep discounts on the most sought after gifts. Dave and I watch (sort of) and say to each other "There is not one thing they are advertising that we want or need." Part of our thought process probably has to do with not having any young grandsons who enjoy toys anymore....the four of them are much more interested in gift cards so they can do their own shopping. And gift cards are easy and boring to wrap but lightweight to send through the mail.
The onslaught of Black Friday ads made me remember several Christmases at our farm house in Nashotah when the kids were young. Todd was in fifth grade and Megan was in kindergarden....so of course there were letterrs to Santa (even if Todd was doing it with good humor to please his little sister). Dave and I would make our purchases trying to satisfy a few of the top requests and then, in the mail, I would get a letter from my grandparents from Appleton. Gramma would send a cute note and include a check asking me to shop for something for each of us. The check was always for $11.00. Thinking of it just now and it brings a lump to my throat....$11.00 was what they could afford and they wanted each of us to have a gift to open on Christmas morning. Something wrapped and under the tree.
At that time there were no Dollar Stores, but I would add their request to my shopping list, deposit the check and search.
I don't remember any of the little gifts I got...something for Dave, for me, for Todd and for Megan. Something with a tag that said Merry Christmas from Great Gramma and Grampa. I knew the love wrapped up in those little boxes was worth much more than whatever the item inside.
$11.00......four gifts.....all before Black Friday was invented.
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