Look out! Here come the holidays

Wow, this month has gone by fast. I can't believe Thanksgiving is less than a week away. We've had snow a couple of times already-- just a teaser, I'm sure, of what's in store for us.  Birds are showing up in droves at the feeders, left alone by squirrels and deer since we switched to the safflower seeds with chili peppers. Gloves and hats have become necessities when walking the dog.  And it's holiday shopping time again, so the predators (and pine scent) are everywhere.

The season "officially" kicks off with "Black Friday,"  the day after Thanksgiving, when the shopping fest pushes retailers' balance sheets into the black.  Some people have been so successfully coerced into believing they MUST HAVE the advertised specials that, not only will they forego sleep for an advantageous position when the doors open at 5 a.m.,  they will trample other shoppers in their frenzy to get their hands on imperative stuff -- while others will refuse to give up their place in line to let the paramedics reach the injured.

(Now some stores like Target are going one better and planning to open at midnight on Thanksgiving, so people can go from sucking down turkey and pumpkin pie to sucking up door buster specials, hardly breaking stride.)

Come on,  people! I know those 42-inch televisions and the Ultimate Optimus Prime are cool stuff, but shouldn't you really ASK yourself their importance in your life?

I guess it's easier to recognize crazy once you've stepped back from the brink of it.  Everyone likes a good deal, but that's not the problem. The crux is that nobody even needs all this stuff we're so deadly keen to acquire.

Now, some of us peasants are wising up and becoming more protective of our assets. I stopped shopping on Black Friday some time ago, because I really don't like being in crowds of frothing at the mouth batshit insane people. I avoid shopping malls like the plague, because the mass produced soullessness of everything is so damned depressing.

I personally like to infuse extra love, care, and meaning into gifts by making them myself, but I realize this takes time, a little skill, and patience that are luxuries not to be found for many people in these hurried, stressful times.

The other really good option is to  spend a Saturday shopping at your local and independently owned business establishments. You will find uniqueness and charm that are missing from all the McStores, and shop owners who conduct business as if people really matter. You will be strengthening your community by building relationships and keeping money circulating within that community. And you just might have a great time while you're at it!

What kind of options does that give you?  A gift certificate for dinner at a local restaurant, a pound of fair trade coffee from the local coffee shop (shout out to Labyrinth!), locally produced pure maple syrup and wines, an endless variety of items created by local artists and artisans, tickets to local arts and sporting events, books from the local independent bookseller-- just to name a few. 

Don't rule out secondhand items-- there are treasures to be gleaned from others' discards, found at thrift stores and garage sales (especially if you shop throughout the year and put things aside for future gifts).  You can find brand new (or barely touched by human hands) hardcover books for under $5 (sometimes much cheaper at garage sales), exquisite sweaters and unique jewelry, housewares, toys, games, and puzzles. At 2nd Chances, I recently found (but did not buy because I didn't need it and did not want to ship across country) a beautiful set of 8 vintage midcentury drinking glasses @ 89 cents apiece.

Some cities have started Shop Local organizations to promote local businesses. Jamestown has a fledgling effort underway with JTNY that I hope will blossom. 

Forget about the Lexus with a big red bow on it. Get a bike.