There's no doubt in my mind that October through December is the best time of the year. The holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, etc., are so wonderful and everyone is happy to spend time together. With Thanksgiving approaching soon, college students are packing their bags for what might be their first time being home since August. Families all together for this joyous holiday as we celebrate a time of giving. The historical context was long lost, and thank God for that, because now it's a time of prosperity between families and a time to be thankful for the things we often forget about. The day after Thanksgiving comes the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday. People stand on lines all night awaiting stores to be open. Fights break out in Toys 'R' Us over juvenile toys that parents can't wait to sign, "Love, Santa" on. Someone is seriously injured or killed every year. Yet, we continue to participate in such barbarity.

To make matters worse, Black Friday has turned into Black Thursday: "Starting at 6PM". This is my real issue with Black Friday. From the time Tuesday runs around I will be thinking of nothing but the fact that I am miles closer to my family with every hour in the six hour ride. Many people might have the luxury of being less than a few hours from home, but I am a quarter of a day away. These few days at home are precious to me. It's time to be with family. It's time to eat real food that is not made in a microwave.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is very dear to my family. We break out real plates and silverware and prepare for a night of non-stop eating and yelling (we are very Italian). While I prepare for the day ahead, on Thanksgiving morning, I watch the parade with whoever is awake. For the three hours or so that the parade runs, it is usually interrupted with some commercials about new television shows, new products to buy, oh and the fact that stores are opening even earlier this year. Midnight on Friday, turned to 9 PM on Thursday, turned to 6 PM. Dinners are cut short so people can stand on line to buy items for people that they could be having dinner with instead. Familial moments are lost and instead these new memories include fighting over an Elmo toy or a microwave in Walmart.

The thing that we most often forget though is the people who have to work these long retail hours. While the stores might not open until six, employees must be there much earlier. They will work long hours. They will be cursed at and yelled at and pushed around for twelve hour shifts or even longer. Some people volunteer for this for the double pay but is it really worth the hassle?

I am one for spending time with my family when I'm home. Maybe some people fall under the realm of not wanting to be questioned about why they don't have a significant other, or why they're not doing well in school. Either way, we mustn't forget the reason that we gather around the table: We give thanks because we are lucky for what is being put in front of us. Don't spend your Thanksgiving on a line. Don't let employers encourage employees to come earlier so that they can make an extra buck. Be thankful on Thanksgiving and blow all your money on Friday.