Yesterday, I took the afternoon off and went shopping with my family. It was only four days before Christmas, and I didn't encounter the crowds I thought I would at the upscale malls we visited. Later that afternoon we visited an outlet mall, and my observations were about the same.
Many of the stores we visited were selling items at 50% off or had a 2 for 1 sale. At first blush, I would say that the Christmas shopping season won't be a disaster, but it won't be the 19% sales boom that the cheerleaders of Black Friday originally reported.
Just about every store we entered signed off with "Merry Christmas" as we left. I heard it so many times that I determined it was just another "corporate thing". That being said, I still enjoyed hearing it. It looks like Corporate America is beginning to wise up.
Companies have become so politically correct and arrogant that we had to practically twist their arm to get them to respect our nations holiest of holidays. I am all for bringing them to their knees and making them beg for our business. Since corporations worship money, it looks like they are beginning to hit their knees in order to meet sales quotas.
Today, I am going to finish up some last minute shopping. I like to shop at locally owned businesses to make sure I spread around the wealth. Wal-Mart has yet to answer my e-mail, so I'll let them sell their imported products made from outsourced labor to someone else.
I love the feeling I get on Christmas Eve. Its a time that brings families and friends together in celebration of the mysteries of the Holy Night. It reminds us all that things were once good, and leaves us with the belief that it could be again. Call me old fashion, but I want to live in a Norman Rockwell Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
