Retail stores open Thanksgiving Day
It seems that the shopping season is taking over the holiday season. Black Friday battles to save a couple dollars are giving us all a black eye!
The MINDLESS ads… Door buster ads, “lightning” deals, Amazon Black Friday week, newspaper ads, TV ads, email ads, Facebook ads, Pinterest ads, ads embedded in blog posts and even Apple products are being advertised on discount, which is something we’ve rarely seen before. In fact, a record number of retail stores (i.e. Best Buy, Walmart, etc.) are open on Thanksgiving Day (which means people have to work vs. share time with family) so that consumers can buy those so-called “bargains.”
Clearly Retailers have crossed the line, but we know the public will head to the shops. We complain about consumerism, but there are plenty of horror stories of stampedes as shops open their doors and people fling themselves into shop ‘til you drop mode.
So, I wanted to put Thanksgiving in perspective.
I have many things to be thankful for, most of all my family and friends. I’m thankful for motorcycling and the ability/health to have enjoyed another year of riding my Harley across this great country. I’m grateful for a wife who shares my passion and rides along on many adventures. I’m thankful and appreciate my extended rider “family” who have been there with support and hugs from breakdowns to accidents.
I’m thankful for the men and women of our armed forces who are serving overseas protecting our interests. They don’t get to spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones and I appreciate their sacrifice. It does not go unnoticed!
We live in a country that to a great extent, still provides the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A place where we can freely choose to do what we want and if we’re fortunate, be able to make a living doing it.
I’m thankful that I can complain about our elected representatives, and have the ability to choose them which is a rarity in this world! Speaking of, I’m thankful for Barack Obama banishing boredom for millions of lives. The ObamaCare misadventure and “apology” has caused a lot of ordinary people to question both his character and his competence. But, I’ve digressed.
Last but not least, I’m thankful for all of you! The readers, the subscribers and the commenters. You allow me to do what I do on this blog. That is the promise of America, and on this Thanksgiving holiday, it still holds true.
I hope you have a chance to enjoy some turkey, yams, stuffing and pumpkin pie with your family and friends!
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