Slouching into the couch I soothe my newest battle wounds acquired at the Battle of Black Friday and soak in its disturbing dramatic irony.

Shades of purple and blue begin to appear on my right ribcage from the elbow of an aggressive housewife who was bound and determined to beat me to the low quality but cheap ankle boots.

The dusty men’s size 11 shoe print tattoos the tops of my small moccasins from the trampling of a lifetime I received from that lumberjack of a man who wasn’t going to leave without a low priced griddle.

My emotions are damaged from the bratty teen who spit profanities at me for grabbing the size three super skinny jeans she was eyeing before her, and at what cost?

Men and women all over the country spend Thanksgiving Day immersed in the unconditional love of their friends and family and voicing their appreciation for them, their health, and the things they are blessed to have.

A few short hours later and after a turkey and dressing induced catnap, they brawl on the floors of department stores for things they want.

I guess the question is, does Black Friday contradict the purpose and spirit of Thanksgiving, especially being so close to the holiday?

I believe it does. If Black Friday was not the day after Thanksgiving, I think I could enjoy the grateful and life-loving buzz that Thanksgiving gives me for just a little bit longer. No other holiday makes me truly appreciate and recognize how lucky I am, and we should sit on those thoughts a little bit longer than a measly few hours.

My family participates in Black Friday shopping, and though I love the thrill, I wish I could just push it back a little so I could enjoy the love that fills the air on the day of thanks and not the store strategies planning.

While we are shopping and forgetting all that gratefulness in the moment of sales dreamland, we should be at home with our families, letting them know how much we love them, not pushing and shoving through mobs of people in an instant self-righteous greed.

I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my job, and the opportunity that I have to express myself not only in a free country, but in print for you to read. Togetherness, whether around the feasting table or immersed in this Lucida Sans script, is truly appreciated. Thank you.