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Giving Thanks and Finding Deals


turkey.JPGThanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays—a time filled with family, food and (of course) football. It’s a time of reflection and, well, thanksgiving, as we think of all the blessings that have been bestowed upon us.

But as we all gobble up our mashed potatoes and fall asleep from all that tryptophan, I’d encourage you to remember those who aren’t celebrating Thanksgiving as we do—those who are spending the day huddled in sleeping bags and braving the late November elements.

I speak, of course, about those in line for Black Friday.

Lori and Ryan Davenport of St. Petersburg, Fla., forsook traditional Thanksgiving—and, in fact, the entire week prior—in order to set up a tent in front of a local Best Buy outlet. “We were just sick of being fourth or fifth,” Lori told USA Today. “We wanted to be at the head of the line this year.”

The Davenports are not alone. Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving and traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year—has become a de facto holiday for many adventurous shoppers, determined to brave massive crowds to snag a few sweet deals. Many stores open in the wee hours of the morning, catering to hardened consumers who think a good night’s sleep can’t compete with a cut-rate flat-screen television.

Now, I’m not knocking Black Friday shoppers. I am, truth be told, married to one (though she does tend to sleep in more than some). Still, when I hear about the Davenports, I can’t help but wonder, in our world of plenty, whether they’re illustrative of priorities gone askew somehow. I wonder—sometimes even in my own life—whether I sometimes lose sight of all I have, and giving appropriate thanks, and instead long to get more of it, whatever “it” happens to be.

So enjoy Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Share the day with them, and the long weekend ahead.

And, if you happen to be reading this in a tent in front of the local shopping outlet, remember that life is more than a shiny new laptop or PS3 Move. Oh, and try to find yourself a slice of pumpkin pie.