Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Annual Thanksgiving Rant or What's Your Thanks in Thanksgiving?




Does the thought of stores open for business on Thanksgiving make you see red or at least a vibrant pink? Does hearing K-Mart will be open at 6 a.m., Walmart and Best Buy at 6 p.m., and Target, Sears, Macy's at 8 p.m., to name just a few, make you want to hand in your membership card to the human  race? Okay, maybe not to that extreme, there are far more important situations to hand in your card for but you get the idea. And I'm right along with you when it comes to these stores.

But I can't vilify and lay the whole blame on the retail sector.  Like the movie Field of Dreams, corporate America heard the little voice say, "if you open, they will come".  And the public did . . .  in droves.  Let's face it, if the consumers weren't there, the doors would stay shut.  So why? According to a RetailMeNot email survey one in five consumers said it gave people a fun activity to do on Thanksgiving.   They haven't talked to my husband. "Families often like to do more than just eat on Thanksgiving. Some go to movies. Some go bowling. Some go to football games or to restaurants," says Bill Thorne, senior vice president of the National Retail Federation.   They couldn't buy or borrow a DVD or play some games at home? It's not like there's not going to be another sale until Christmas! I just don't get it.

When I was a kid, the men would watch  football games, except for my dad who'd go down stairs to play pool with anyone who'd like to challenge him, and the mothers would congregate in the kitchen to help prepare the meal.  When everyone was gathered at the bountiful table, my grandmother would say a short grace that was followed by the noise of platters being passed around and requests for favorite foods.  Then came the silence broken by the clanks of silverware as we enjoyed the results of their labor.  Like a wave,  conversations would rise and fall throughout.  Afterwards, the adults would gather at the table and play penny poker while the cousins, all girls and most of us within four years range of each other, would talk and listen to music. 

Most of those adults have passed on now and the cousins are scattered across the US.  We'll never have those times again.  I miss them.  And I have to ask, what kind of memories are the families of these shoppers and workers going to have to look back on; laughter and sharing or long lines, fighting for a parking space and/or a missing family member at the Thanksgiving table?

Okay, if you feel stores should be closed on Thanksgiving, raise your left hand and  place your right hand on your credit/debit card or any thing else you use to get yourself into debt then repeat after me:

        I, say your name, solemnly swear not venture forth into any store, mall or on-line shopping site to make any purchases on Thanksgiving Day. I shall respect the ideals of Thanksgiving by spending it with family and/or friends and shall not force anyone to work because of my selfish wants.

Good for you.  Now please share what you're thankful for besides family,  friends, employment, health etc.  One of the things I, and this might sound a little strange, am amazed at times and grateful for the ability to turn on my faucet and have hot and cold, clean water whenever I want it.  So many people around the world don't have this simple feature.  We take it for granted like so many other things and we shouldn't.

May you have a wonderful, happy, and safe Thanksgiving.




Sources: Huff Post, USA Today,

8 comments:

  1. I just can't stand the fact that retails stores are open on Thanksgiving. Everything you said, is exactly how I feel.

    Our normal plans for Thanksgiving fell through this year and my husband suggested going out to eat. My first thought was, do I really want to be the reason someone else has to work on Thanksgiving?

    I guess there are a lot of people who have to work: Police, fire, nurses, doctors etc.--even my daughter has to work because she's employed at CVS. But these are necessary. Having to work on Thanksgiving at Walmart is not.

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Donna!

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  2. I won't shop on Thanksgiving and I don't venture out on Black Friday either. No sale is worth the stress and I don't want to see my fellow humans at their holiday worst. I may cybershop, or venture out one evening, but I don't do frantic,

    I respect the people who provide essential services, but a big box store opening on Thanksgiving so the first 100 people can get a $25 tablet is not essential.

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    1. I'm totally with you, Jeannie and like you I don't venture to the stores on Black Friday.

      Thanks for coming by. and have a great Thanksgiving.

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  3. We're not big shoppers anyway, but to go out on Thanksgiving is not something we'd ever do. Opening the stores means, like Maggie said above, somebody else has to work. And miss their own Thanksgiving.
    Besides, who'd want to go out when there's a Muppets special on tv with Lady Gaga and Elton John? I can't wait to see what they (the Muppets) wear! Happy Thanksgiving, Donna!

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    1. Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Lynne. The Muppets are going to be on? Great, I'll have to check it out.

      Thanks for the info and for stopping by.

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  4. I have always really liked Kohl's and am one of their most loyal customers. However, I'm very disappointed in their anti-family message sent by being open on Thanksgiving. The last time I was in the store I expressed my disappointment with their decision to the manager and followed up with a letter to corporate headquarters. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I felt it was the right thing to do. I won't shop on Thanksgiving or the day after. I will shop that Saturday morning before noon. (HINT: It's quiet then and still all the sales. Just saying.)

    Happy Thanksgiving, Donna!

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  5. As an essential employee who's worked on every holiday throughout the years, I don't have a problem with the ppl working as much as I have a problem with them not getting any kind of time & a half or "holiday" pay. That's just...wrong. Employment is so much more precious in today's economy, most ppl are happy to have a job. I don't go out on Black Friday & never had a desire to. As usual, I'm thankful for all of my blessings. May you and yours enjoy a safe and Happy Thanksgiving :)

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