Before I dive into the day’s events, take a look at that ridiculous clip.
People were literally fighting over inexpensive phones. It was shocking—people shoved and knocked others down just to get closer. I swear some of those shoppers would have trampled each other for a discounted novelty if it were hidden under a sheet before dawn. The most bizarre part: despite the chaos and people getting hurt, that smiling Walmart balloon kept bouncing around at the end like nothing happened. I’ll never understand it.
My family and I have been shopping after Thanksgiving for over 30 years. There was a time when only Jackson, MS seemed to have the wildest 5 a.m. sales. Early on we learned to avoid Walmart during those hours. One year we arrived an hour after the rush and found only a crushed poinsettia and a single shoe in the doorway. It was unnerving.
The morning began with the usual grumbles, whining, and general crankiness. It’s hard to get excited that early.
Once I warmed up in the car and had some juice, I felt much better. Jackson is a great shopping buddy—he slept in the car, then woke up smiling as long as he had his hat and his gingerbread “bear.”
He was a little unsure about the reindeer display.
Because a new outdoor mall opened a couple of years earlier, the indoor mall crowd was the smallest I’ve ever seen. We didn’t wait long in lines at any store. I didn’t do much standing at all—my ribs were sore, so I found comfortable chairs throughout the day.
When we stopped by Walmart, it felt like a ghost town. Some of us were on a mission to find Madea’s Christmas movie for Momma, while others were wandering. Momma hunted for yarn for Grandma—Jackson even modeled one of her finds. After that, we decided to head home to make ornaments and watch the LSU–Arkansas game.
Back at home, everyone had different plans—my sister is a die-hard college fan, and now my parents have picked up a rivalry of their own, cheering LSU and teasing Alabama just because my sister does. I don’t fully get the fervor, but it makes the house lively.
What actually happened is simpler: everyone fell asleep. Even the baby and the dogs dozed off in various spots around the house.
When we woke up, it was ornament-making time. We spread supplies across the table and got to work. The kitchen quickly filled with glitter, ribbon, and laughter as each person crafted their own design. The ornaments turned out colorful and unique—perfect for gifting or hanging on our tree.
After our nap and the ornament session, it was time to wrestle with electronics—hooking up the TV, satellite box, and DVD player. We started with a tangle of cords and guesswork, tried a few configurations, and finally turned to search engines for clear instructions. Many hours later—after trial, error, and a lot of patience—we got everything connected and working together like a well-rehearsed chorus.
It was a long day of shopping, naps, crafts, and amateur electrical engineering. Now we’re ready to relax and look forward to a big turkey dinner tomorrow.