Yes, you read the title correctly.  Black Thursday.  That is what stores are turning Thanksgiving Day into.  Stores are opening their doors for Black Friday shopping, as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

I cannot describe in enough words how ridiculous and insane this country has become, over “deals” that really don’t save you any money.  Well, maybe a couple of dollars here and there.

I don’t remember what year this Black Thursday madness started, but I do recall reading advertisements and watching commercials about a couple of years ago.  Do people really skip their Thanksgiving meals to stand in line for a doll or toy truck?  I’m a regular customer at certain stores, so I laugh when I see “Black Friday deals” that aren’t really deals at all.  There are only a few items that’s an actual steal.

Since I’m ranting about the upcoming circus, I must say that I haven’t watched the local news at all this week, or read the newspaper.  That’s because I’m not in the mood to see all the tents set up in Best Buy’s parking lot.  At the beginning of the week, several families actually start camping out in the store parking lot.  That just sickens me.

So, where will you be on Black Thursday?  I’ll tell you where I’ll be.  I will be at home eating my Thanksgiving turkey, dressing (made from scratch with chicken, I don’t do stuffing), fresh spinach, baked macaroni and cheese, barbecue ribs, dinner rolls, and homemade sweet potato pie.  Then my boys and I are going to fix a plate for my mother, and take it to her new apartment (she finally decided to downsize) she just moved into this week.  After that, we’re going to swing back home, fix my brother a plate, and take it to the nursing home where he lives.  No, he’s not some elderly man, he’s young but paralyzed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Besides, I’ve been doing a lot of shopping online the past few years.  The stores offer the same deals online as they do in the stores.  And most of them begin their online sales hours before the brick and mortar stores open.

Whatever you decide to do, be safe and have fun!