Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede

[KSUViolet06]

A few years ago, my stepdad and I went to Circuit City which opened at 5 AM, and had a Black Friday deal on DVD players. We got into the store, and went off to find the player. We got it, he put it into the cart, and told me to watch the cart while he went to the restroom.

While he was in the restroom, I looked at other struff, all while pulling the cart behind me. I stopped and left my hand on the cart while I pulled something off the shelf with another. While in the process of this, an elderly woman RAN UP and YANKED that cart out of my hand (causing me to fall over) and RAN toward the checkout counter yelling "Bob I found your DVD player!"

I never shopped on Black Friday again. I find that most of what I want either will still be there on Monday, or is on eBay somewhere.

[Munchkin03]

Back in my day, we used to only get one special present that we asked for specifically. Of course, there'd be other little surprises, but not this huge toy-soaked fest that a lot of people have now. My niece and nephew, for example, tend to get a LOT of stuff, but their parents aren't together anymore, and that explains the 2 Christmases they get.

I think a lot of this stuff comes down to priorities. I remember kids in school who would come to school without a proper coat, but they all got Nintendos back for Christmas of 1989.

As far as Santa goes, I really wanted to believe, but I never could. My nephew never even tried.

[SWTXBelle]

pj - we always put up our tree on Dec. 6th - St. Nicholas' Day (and talk about St. Nicholas). We use the Playmobil Advent Calendar with the nativity scene (it was from a few years back - the new one this year has a forest scene with Santa Claus). We have a Fontanine Crèche - the Wise Men are exiled to the dining room, and make their way to the manager on Jan. 6th (Epiphany). My children also know that they get oranges in their stockings to represent the bags of money (gold) that St. Nicholas of Myra threw into the drying stockings of the three impoverished women so they would have dowries. We use an advent wreath, and discuss the Christian symbolism of the holiday trappings. As to Santa Claus - when asked if he really exists, I always turned it back on them "What do you think?". Once they are old enough to say "I think it is you!" then we can discuss what Santa Claus represents, and how we follow the example of St. Nicholas and the many other saints of God when we give not only to our loved ones but to others (as soon as they can reach the kettle, my children give to the Salvation Army ringers). I hate that for the first time we can't adopt a family from the Angel Tree. Money is that tight . . . and my children will have their stockings filled with small gifts, and one each from Santa. By the time they have received one from various family and friends they will have more than enough gifts.

Back to the story - it's horrible. Beyond horrible. I'm with the previous poster - I'd have arrested everyone who didn't stop but went barreling past to get that must-have toy or geegaw.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

As far as Santa goes, I really wanted to believe, but I never could. My nephew never even tried.

I believed in Santa until first grade, when I saw my dad putting presents under the tree. He didn't try to cover it up or anything, he just made me promise not to tell any of the other kids at school.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

While he was in the restroom, I looked at other struff, all while pulling the cart behind me. I stopped and left my hand on the cart while I pulled something off the shelf with another. While in the process of this, an elderly woman RAN UP and YANKED that cart out of my hand (causing me to fall over) and RAN toward the checkout counter yelling "Bob I found your DVD player!"

Tell me this wasn't in Cleveland or Crackron.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Tell me this wasn't in Cleveland or Crackron.

I think this was Canton actually.