Salad. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Corn. Stuffing. Cranberry sauce. Ham. Greenbean casserole. Stuffed shells. Baked buns. Pumpkin pie with Cool Whip. Pumpkin rolls. Cookie trays. Your aunt's dish of questionable origin that everyone eats because they don't want to make her feel badly. And, of course, freshly carved turkey.

But, don't forget what is truly the most important aspect of Thanksgiving--the people you call "family" positioned around the table, indulging in as much food as their stomachs can possibly handle.

Why do I bring this up? Well, for many, Thanksgiving also marks an important transition for families around the country--the transition to Christmas preparation. And, as such, many families around the country make their lists (and check them twice, of course) and partake in Black Friday shopping in order to ensure little Billy and Suzy get everything their hearts desire.

However, the name "Black Friday" is gradually becoming more and more obsolete, as competitors inch further and further into Thanksgiving itself to attempt to rake in more and more revenue from gullible consumers who are willing to do whatever it takes to get the best deals.

Before you abandon your families (who you quite possibly don't see too often) and venture out to stand in lines with other people just as desperate as you to secure the latest video game console or doorbuster/early-bird sales, think about the reason why you're willing to do such asinine things. Because you love your family, right?

Well, are you genuinely showing your family love if you are so willing to leave them on a day that has adopted the meaning of giving thanks for the people/things that make us happiest in the world?

Stop.

Yes, perhaps, you'll miss out on doll that your daughter just can't live without, but your family is here now and won't always be here. Your kids are going to grow up and move away to go to school and/or to start their own lives. Your brothers and sisters, if you have any, aren't always going to be under the same roof as you. You're not always going to have the ability to dodge your parents' questions about your dating life. Your grandparents aren't always going to be able to tell you their fondest memories from their childhoods. And, so on.

Enjoy this time with your families to the fullest of your abilities instead of stopping-in long enough to stuff your face and, then, running to the line outside of Wal-Mart.

Deal with the endless questions and the political drama and whatever else they have to throw at you. Eat. Talk. Be happy. And, most importantly, be thankful for those that love you unconditionally, not for how much you can stuff in a shopping cart.