Kohl’s:
The toy aisle’s in Kohl’s leave much to be desired. About 4 1/2 feet wide – barely enough room to move by yourself, let alone with a cart. After battling for a cart of her own near the entrance, Lydia took off running (in slippers!) to the back of the store and the toy department. (Next year I am bringing knee pads, elbow pads and an oxygen tank.)
Grabbing first two large Hot Wheels boxes and shoving them into the cart, Lydia was accosted by a woman who began berating her for having a cart in the toys section – while completely ignoring the 10 other carts surrounding her – including the one that she was shoving toys into while her husband/boyfriend/whatever held on to it and wheeled it behind her.
Candace had arrived at this point, and Lydia thankfully pawned the cart off on her and banished her to a safe section of the store. Stripping off her coat and pushing her purse into Candace’s arms, Lydia then stated she was “going back in” and dove back into the sea of people to emerge victorious.
Toy’s R Us:
Having been successful with their Disney Store mission, Mom and Abby made their way over to Toys R Us. With toys in hand, and while telling Lydia over the cell phone that they were on their way soon, they stood three people from being checked out when the manager approached them and informed them they had to go to the back of the line – as they were redoing how the lines were set up.
Toys R Us did not receive any Presley or Bushnell money on this Black Friday.
Wal-Mart:
Alec, having failed in his mission, began wandering the store looking for Dad. After two trips around the store he spotted a buddy of his emerging from the back with a pallet full of 20″ flat screen tv’s. Alec hailed him and immediately grabbed one of the TV’s off the pallet and went to find Dad.
Dad at this point has found the Ice Hockey table and has it protruding from his own cart. Alec shoves his cart with the TV in it at Dad while stating he thinks he can get another and bolts back. Sure enough – the buddy hung around long enough for Alec to grab another TV and book it back to Dad.
Meanwhile – Dad has found a woman with a certain toy in her cart that was on Dad’s list. He asked the woman where she found it and she whispered the location – and that there was only one left.
Alec and Dad formed the Electronic Train at this point (Alec in front pushing one TV cart, pulling a second TV cart behind him while Dad pushed it and pulled his own Ice Hockey cart). They found the toy (score!). There were only two to begin with. Thank you Lord for nice people!!
Kohl’s:
Lydia and Candace (having finally loaded up their cart + all four arms with items) are standing in a store wide line. They are three from being checked out with no Mom in sight (which means no money in sight). A phone call confirms that Mom and Abby are at Target (where Abby is shopping out of people’s carts!) and Lydia and Candace are to walk the five feet from the front of the line to get into the back of the line all over again.
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Aside from a few other small incidents, that was our Black Friday experience. We got home around 8:30 a.m. that morning and most people slept it off… I however did not sleep until 10p.m. that night.
Am I glad we did it? Yes. Black Friday is always a fun experience to reflect on the day after it happens and the stories are hilarious. This Black Friday was another success in the long run of things – we walked away a little tired, bruised and beat up – but the following laughter and the gratitude of our wallets is always a good thing.
