Black Friday, Guam, Goose Bay, Germany and Jesus

I know many of you are thinking, "What does Black Friday have to do with WHaM Books"?  Well, I work at Sears.  I sell jewelry.  After years of working in Loss Prevention, which was a fun, rewarding job, I can't believe I'm selling jewelry on commission.  Holy Cow!  One thing about being a military brat is that you learn to adapt. 
 
We (meaning Sears) have all of our Christmas decorations up and the store looks pretty darned good.  I'm sure most of you aren't ready to be in the Christmas Spirit yet, but I'm already there. 

As I ascend on the escalator every day I sneak a peek at the Christmas trees, etc., on display downstairs.  Approximately every 5th song over the PA is a Christmas song.  I'm really digging it.  I may be tired of it in a few weeks but for now it's fun.

The Christmas season always takes me back to my childhood when we waited for 'Santa' to make his appearance while we slept.  Even as a teen I looked forward to seeing what Santa left under the tree. 

We moved to Goose Bay, Labrador when I was 14.  It was November and we stayed in temporary billeting for a month.  Mom and Dad had to scramble to find Christmas presents for their five children.  The BX (base exchange) was pretty much wiped out by that time, so they went to Happy Valley, the capital of Labrador (population approx. 300) to scour the Hudson's Bay Store there.  Lynda and I got some old, and some obscure albums for Christmas that year ... Fats Domino, Leslie Gore, The Eighth Day (who's ever heard of them?).  I don't think there was a Black Friday back then.

And then there were those many years of being 'Santa' for my kids.  It was so much fun, kissing my children goodnight, then breaking out all the presents and putting them under the tree.  Their stockings were loaded with goodies, usually fruit, candy and one or two special gifts from Santa. 

One of my most memorable Christmases was when we moved to Guam when I was six.  We really did have an aluminum Christmas tree with blue ornaments and the Christmas Angel, just like the Wilks family in Guam Adventures - Mystery of the Cave.  Through the years I have looked for a tree like that; and even though I love a real tree (or an artificial tree that looks real), that aluminum tree, which followed us for many years and became a tradition (along with the cardboard Angel with the halo of sparkling white 'angel' hair), will forever hold a special place among my favorite Christmas memories.

So what does Black Friday have to do with any of this?  Masses of people, standing in line with numbers in their hands waiting to  satisfy their wishes?   We all have Christmas memories, and who's to say the busy-ness of Black Friday isn't a worthy one?  I talked to a woman the other day who told me that she and her mom and sister always shop together on Black Friday.  Those memories will last her lifetime. 
 
Certainly times have changed.  If I had gone shopping with my mom, sisters or daughter on Black Friday I would have similar never-to-be-forgotten memories; not because of the insanity and chaos or the great deals and money saved, but because of the time spent laughing and loving those so dear to me. 

When we lived in Germany, I made a stencil that I put on our front window that said "Happy Birthday, Jesus".  Let's stop for just one moment and remind ourselves that Black Friday leads us to the day when we celebrate our Savior's birth.  Presents or no presents, shopping deals or not, He is still the reason we celebrate Christmas.

You can order your copy of Guam Adventures - Mystery of the Cave at www.createspace.com/4008187 or contact us at whammysteries@gmail.com.  It will make a wonderful gift for the 'tween in your life!  (Adults will enjoy it, too!)