Black Friday...as seen through my eyes

**Please note -- I try to keep my ranting and raving to a minimum. However, the following post is one I needed to get off my chest. If you're not in the mood to listen to someone standing tall on their soap box, feel free to scroll on down to the next post.

Here's a look at Black Friday from a different perspective. This is a look at the busiest shopping day of the year from the wife of a retail manger... After spending as much time as possible with my in-laws yesterday (Thanksgiving) we drove the three hours home and arrived at 9:00 p.m. My husband, unable to sleep, was up until 2:30 a.m. After sleeping just three hours, he had to get up to be at his store by 6:00 a.m. There were 48 people waiting in line for the doors to open at 7:00 a.m. It is now almost 1:00 and he only has 8 more hours to work! Since the doors will not close at 9:00 p.m. when they are supposed to (there will be people in there until the last possible minute) he will make it home around 10:30 tonight. That's a 16 1/2 hour day, people! He will make it home just in time to go to bed, get up at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow and have another 13 hour day. What am I trying to say here? Well, let me tell you....I have never and will never shop on Black Friday. I realize I could save a few bucks, but the negatives heavily out weigh the savings. By standing in line at 5, 6, & 7:00 a.m., you are only encouraging the retailers to open earlier next year. That means the poor souls who have to work at these businesses will have less and less time with their families all in the name of corporate America. Please don't get me wrong here, I am most thankful for my husband's job. He provides very well for us. But, is Black Friday really necessary? Couldn't the stores just open at their regular time and offer the same great savings then? I know the man who writes my husband's checks will be extremely happy with the sales his store generated today, but do you think he put in a 16+ hour day today? Nope, no way! He just gets to reap the rewards and count the money you gave him at 5:00 a.m. this morning.