Hunting Season

Welcome to Black Friday.  The day when otherwise normal people morph into bargain-hunting warriors.  Their safari starts at the crack of dawn if they didn’t begin after their Thanksgiving dinner.  Malls become jungles where competitiveness worthy of the Serengeti is unleashed.  For merchants, it can be an exercise in survival of the fittest, each competing for the next dollar spent.

Bargain shoppers thrash racks like hunters with a machete.  Now is the easiest time to find what is most sought after. There are ample supplies, a luxury which will not last all season. There will come a time when the hunt requires more patience as the final sweater in your loved-one’s size is left, and it will be camouflaged with a collection of items most people don’t want.

Americans love to consume.  This is why the holiday season is so important to retailers.  Stores are hoping you have been training for this game of endurance.  They also hope you brought the patience required to navigate the winding rivers of the checkout lines.  Like a jungle-boat cruise, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the last-minute items yet be able to distinguish them from those wares which won’t be appreciated.

As the day closes, you may find yourself fatigued and wondering why you put yourself through the effort.  You braved the crowds and found items you didn’t know you needed.  You’ll have stories to regale your family and friends as they unwrap the trophies from your hunt. 

However it goes for you, be sure to get some rest and dream of discounts.  This season has just begun.  More days of bargain hunting are ahead, so don’t fret if you didn’t get the elusive prey you sought.  Just as certain as the sun will rise, merchants will open their doors again, and if the Serengeti experience doesn’t yield what you’re looking for, you can always try the Amazon.