One Man's Perspective: Holiday hysteria

Well we went immediately from a spirit of thanksgiving and fellowship with those around us on Thursday to holiday hysteria before sunrise on Friday.

Fortunately I opted to sleep in a bit and missed a majority of the obnoxious behavior; but there was still plenty of nuttiness to go around when I finally arrived around 8:30 a.m. to begin the process of holiday shopping.

I simply wonder what happens to people and common sense as a rule.

An example. According to reports from a local large store on the southside of Spencer, people were actually threatening one another in an attempt to get their hands on a new product named after an annoying chirping bug. That's after some people began camping out the night prior to try and ensure they were able to procure the best bargains.

It was elbows and attitude Friday, even in the later morning hours, as my wife and I searched for a variety of items, ranging from clothing to toys.

My wife was in Dollar Tree looking for a specific item, and had a large woman come up behind her and begin sighing because she was delayed on her way to get whatever it was she was looking for. Some people, rather than grunting and groaning, might have taken the less dramatic road and simply walked down another unoccupied aisle; but no, the Twinkies were within view and there's no stopping someone in search of cream filling wrapped in spongy cake.

The parking lots were full, the bumper stickers were not family friendly, the deals were great, and the line at Southpark Chinese was long - all-in-all it was pretty much what one would expect shopping on Black Friday.

And while I'm certainly no fan of impolite behavior any time of the year, let alone in the season when we're supposed to be celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, I want to encourage everyone to get out this Christmas season, set your budgets, stick to your budgets, and shop our local retailers. It's been a tough year for everyone, we're all feeling it, but the only thing that's going to turn this recession around is a little consumer spending and now is the right time to do it. My one request however is to try and do as much of it as you can locally.

With the local public clinching the purse strings these past 12 months, afraid to spend those extra bucks over the course of the year because of the uncertain, retailers have definitely felt that impact as well. Now is the time, to use whatever budget you've set up for yourself and make those special purchases for the ones you love.

Maybe Christmas isn't going to have quite as many presents under the tree this year. That's okay. Life's not about scoring a bunch of gifts. There are many more reasons to enjoy the season and it all starts with giving.

I've been really impressed with how quickly the large number of Holiday Adopt a Families have been disappearing from our lists on a daily basis. Each year the public steps up and gives to those in need, and this year is no exception. And even with things as they are, those families continue to be taken care of.

Others are giving to various shoe programs, and Jaycees projects. Shopping with law enforcement and fire department personnel has become extremely popular. The Kiwanis groups personally take families on shopping days to make sure the kids' clothing needs are met.

Yes the spirit of giving is in the air.

Just remember the true meaning of the season. It's not about the gifts under the tree, or the gifts you gave, it's about the gift you got over 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.

We need to remember that, keep his peace in mind as we shop, and be more mindful of the giving than the getting when it comes to others.