I keep hearing about this. Is it plague? An economic crash or its aftershocks? A Mayan Day of Reckoning? It seems to be scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, so, perhaps it signals nationwide indigestion.
I’m not sure, but I think it’s some kind of shopping extravaganza. This seems so unlike that world. So against the principles (principles?) and public relations of our consumer economy. Shouldn’t it be something like, The First Day of Christmas? Or, Viernes Gigante!? Or, The First Day of the Rest of Your Shopping Life?
Have I grown up? Have I grown old? Have I lost my wallet?
I have purposefully averted my eyes and ears, when the topic is raised. Ignorance of some things can be more than bliss; it may actually be a legitimate defense.
I’ll continue to speculate on the possible meaning of Black Friday. That sounds like a lot more fun than going shopping at the same time as a majority of the population.
For me, Black Friday can be a peaceful day at home. It can be the absence of all shopping. It may sound scary, but it is right in line with that long-held belief – TGIF!
I was at the gym, where I get in most of my TV watching. Screens, on either side of me, hung from the ceiling. One showed a fantasy workout in Hawaii, with unnatural women lifting weights. On the other side, was SportsCenter. The one directly in front of me was reporting serious entertainment. It was the kind of show we once imagined was the news.
An attractive reporter made it hard to completely focus on exactly what she was saying. Also, I was reading subtitles. She was at a mall in Michigan. There was an endless line of people behind her. They were in line to buy Sarah Palin’s book, Going Rogue, and to have her sign their copies.
The line snaked off into the distance, through the deserted boulevards of the mall. It was nine in the morning. She wasn’t to appear until six o’clock tonight. They had been in line a long time already.
The reporter was amazed at the number of people and praised their determination. She spoke of their diversity, although I didn’t see anyone of color behind her. She said Sarah Palin was giving a voice to the people in line and to a great number of citizens around the country.
Sarah Palin is someone we have watched now for more than a year. In detail. Through many situations. I don’t know why, but giving her voice, one that is simplistic, narrow-minded, and shortsighted, manipulative and self-serving, to all these people shocked me. Could this really be the voice of these patient, peaceful people in line?
It was reported that she is a force that the Republican Party would have to take into account in the next election. The pundits, back at the station, said Sarah Palin is a skilled and influential politician. You can’t ever count her out. They, for one, or two, would never underestimate her. Plus, they said, she is on the cover of this week’s Newsweek, in running shorts!
Everyone took a deep breath. Then, they broke for a commercial.
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