Thanksgiving Thoughts

This commentary will be the last one until Tuesday, December 3. I am taking a few days off and taking a weekend jaunt for the Thanksgiving Weekend. Taking a few days off from time to time is good for recharging the batteries.

I know that on Friday many of you will fall into the trap set up by the media to highlight the pluses or minuses of retailers Black Friday sales. I have commented on the fact that some retailers plan to open Thursday, to try and get a head start on the Christmas shopping season. As if opening at 8 pm will make that much of a difference.

Black Friday, of course, is the day retailers hope to put their books into the "black", a very cogent and professional accounting term which describes the financial condition of the business. Before this, they had been working in the "red", or negative  position, where they were losing monies from their bottom line.

Now that we have dispensed with the Accounting 101 class, let's realize that this weekend will be very busy in the malls, the highways and byways leading to the malls, and the restaurants and diners, where shoppers will go to take that break between Macy's and Sports Authority.

Home improvement stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, etc, will also be busy in their seasonal and garden departments, selling trees, wreaths, roping, poinsettia and other flora necessary to decorate our homes for Christmas. Of course, the items necessary to complete the look like lights, lawn ornaments, nativity scenes and so forth will also be walking out the doors with the Christmas trees.

Stores like Wal*Mart, K-Mart, Sears and other big box store retailers will do their best to compete with Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Best Buy, PC Richards, etc, to sell comparable products at reduced, more affordable prices. And don't forget that Costco, BJ Wholesale and other member warehouses will be equally busy.

All weekend, at extended hours.

Home shopping channels will be vying for those limited disposable consumer dollars with Christmas-themed items interspersed with their usual products. Christmas sets will abound even as backdrops to every stage. And hosts will hawk all of this by mentioning Christmas or holiday at every opportunity. And, of course, liberal return policies will be mentioned as a final hook, which brick and mortar retailers cannot possibly offer.

And, finally, on Monday, the Internet gets to join the party. Internet sales for electronics of all stripes are expected to surpass last year on Monday, as more people each year have decided not to fight the crowds and the traffic.

So, enjoy today as you prep for the big feast. Many pies and breads will be made to be enjoyed with your turkey, lasagna, stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the other fixings which will complete your meal. The cooks and bakers will need help, like wash the dishes and pans, wipe the tables, take out the garbage, or pour them a cup of coffee. But, DON'T think you are going to do the main work involved. Remember, too many cooks....

Tomorrow is the family day, so when you get up remember that the parade starts at  9 am and football starts at noon. But don't forget to be involved with your family. And, after dinner, you can't blame your nap on just the tripophan in the turkey. There were more than just a couple of pounds of carbs on your plate that you ate, too.

Enjoy your weekend, friends, as I will enjoy mine. Please be safe and smart as you travel out and about. For those of you traveling long distances to be with loved ones, whether you are driving or flying, please keep an eye on the weather and plan to leave early if you can, should difficult weather conditions be forecast.

And let me say something to my faithful readers, who have grown in numbers since I started this commentary. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship, respect and kindness. I truly appreciate you and your feedback, whether you agree or not with my views. I am thankful to you that you take an interest in reading mine and trust me, I read yours, as well. You have helped me grow in this world of blogging, teaching me a few things as I try to reach out to you and make you think of things which you may have thought not possible. Thank you.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. See you next week!