The Race is on!

December 2nd.

That means only 23 days left for all the Christmas shopping I have left to do.

The list seems endless...parents (mine and Jedbots) brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, teachers, the mailman (I may just have to skip him this year)...oh and how could I forget, my children and husband?

Even with the "Name Exchange" aka: Secret Santa, the list is still long enough that I fear someone will be forgotten.

Every year it's the same. With list in hand and cash in my pocketbook, the mission for picking out the perfect gift for all my loved ones can be quite overwhelming. Time is tick, tick, ticking away and soon Christmas will be here.

SCREAM!

I never really cared for the whole "Black Friday" deal. I mean, even just the THOUGHT of maneuvering around a store packed with holiday shoppers, and standing in line for hours, was something I hyperventilated about.

However, the awesome deals I found online for Target was too much to pass up. I figured if I timed it right, I would arrive at the store when all the early birds where off to their next destination and I would be free to roam the aisles alone.

Ha.

I was soooo wrong!

It was a mad-house! I walked in through the front doors and gasped for air. People were EVERYWHERE! I stood there for a moment, collected myself, and took a DEEP breath. Then I headed in like a soldier in battle...guns first. (I mean, shopping cart first.)

After an hour or so, I couldn't find ANYTHING on my list of "must-haves"! All of the (blank), and (blank), and even the (blank) were gone. (You didn't think I was actually going to reveal my secret gifts to you?) Nothing but the price tag and an empty shelf remained of the perfect presents I was determined to purchase.

Discouraged, tired and hungry, I settled in line with the items I had selected as Plan B gifts. Then, as I peered around the many shoppers in line ahead of me...to see if the cash register was in view yet...there they were! I love people who change their minds. All along the edges of the lane, even sitting on clothing racks (yes, I was in line all the way through the clothing department), were the gifts I was sulking about not finding. All I had to do was wait until the line moved and snatch them up.

YEESSS!

I left the store, after spending way too much money, happy with my purchases and feeling optimistic about Black Friday for next year. I could really get into this whole "shopping-with-the-crazies thing. Because now, I am an honorary member of the Nutty People Who Shop on Black Friday Club!