Surviving October’s ghosts and demons, retailers thrust us into greater madness:
HOLIDAY SHOPPING.
Maybe in the tree-trimming aisle, perhaps a Costco somewhere:
Today, someone will die (at a bargain price.)
I’ll hide online!
~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-~~~-
This is my response to Trifecta’s weekend prompt:
In The Scorpio Races, author Maggie Stiefvater writes, “It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.” Give us the next thirty-three words of this story, as you imagine it. Take it wherever you like, but make it original and make it 33 words exactly. –
The title of this post is a take on Darwin’s “survival of the fittest.” I believe the only way to survive the holiday shopping season is to not buy into it. (Buy into it…get it?) I know, that was lame- but I couldn’t resist. It’s Friday and I haven’t crashed from my Halloween chocolate sugar high yet.
If you’d like to see other responses, or submit your own, click here to view Trifecta’s site! Have a fabulous Friday 😛
JannaTWrites 
Such a great title! Madness, indeed. (stop the pumpkins! Don’t let them leave yet!)
Thanks, Phil! After I posted I started to over-think it…clickest isn’t a word, but I left it anyway 🙂 I’m not ready for the holiday craziness. Even going to the grocery store gets more complicated. Maybe it’ll be better since I’m in a small town now…Phoenix was horrible!
great costumes!!
and While I love to shop online, it’s easier to just go to the stores (I love Christmas but won’t get into buying until Thanksgiving week, when I decorate the house)
although you bring up good points, as usual. Click, Click…:)
Sometimes it’s helpful to see something in person, but I have to really be in the mood to deal with crowds (usually I’m not!) Good luck with your shopping, Kir 🙂
I love (at a bargain price) – that made me laugh. This is great, Janna!
Thanks, Momo! This was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but my spirit does die a little bit each time I’m caught in the madness of holiday shopping crowds!
A HORRORIFYING Halloween costume would be . . . Santa, or a Christmas Tree, or a scene from the Nativity.
Hearing about Christmas before the Halloween candy has been scarfed makes me want to barf. This morning, as I punched buttons in the card, I found a station that is already playing Christmas Carols. On November 1st. ACK!
Oh . . . but this post (from title to hiding on-line to the pic) –> FAB!!! And funny.
Thanks – glad you found the humor in it!
Hahaha…there’s an idea. Santa for Halloween 🙂 I agree – it’s waaaay too soon for carols, Nancy!
haha
My wife and mother are already talking about this. Very relatable. Good luck.
Thanks for reading, Lance! I don’t do much holiday shopping (the kids in our family are old enough, I do money or gift cards because they won’t like anything in our price range anyway :))
ah, the shopping sprees and holiday rushes begin. this is great.
Thanks, Donetta. I can tell you I won’t be at the Black Friday sales at Wal-Mart. Getting trampled over a great TV deal would really ruin my holiday spirit 🙂
It is frustrating to see christmas decorations going up and halloween is two weeks away. We are in such a rush to get the prize, we lose something.
Yep, we don’t even get to take a breath between holidays. I don’t head into the stores often, so I have been able to keep my own pace, somewhat. Thanks for reading, Ann!
Great costumes, Janna. Bet this shot was taken BEFORE the fun! Yes, the crazy season has already started, though thankfully, I haven’t heard Christmas carols being played in the stores yet — Yikes!!
Yes, this was before they hit the streets. They grumbled at having to stand still for a photo (and having to stand so close to each other :)) May we survive the retail season and keep the true spirit in our hearts. Thanks for stopping by, Debbie!
‘Tis the season. Oh, boy!!! Love the pic. I don’t start until after my favorite holiday and much is done online! Very timely. I bet the music is already piped in at the mall.
You might be right, Gina. I haven’t been to the mall in so long, I can’t remember when they get it all ‘holidayed out’. Thank goodness for online!!
Oh, I am so with you on this! Let’s just hide in our living rooms and eat leftover Halloween chocolate until the New Year. 😀
Done! (Staying home, Halloween candy…don’t have to twist my arm :)) Thanks for reading, Suzanne!
Janna, this is great!
Thanks for reading, Theinnerzone!
I’m with Suzanne! I want to savor each holiday in turn, and for now that means leftover Halloween candy. Unfortunately, I know it’s already half price one aisle away from the Christmas stuff.
A very true 33 words Janna!
I went to a Wal-Mart a couple weeks ago and already saw some red and green. Too soon! I remember when it was a treat to see the stores decked out for the first time right after Thanksgiving. (As I type that, I realize how old that makes me sound :)) Thanks for reading, Valerie.
Super costumes, Janna! I daren’t tell what we’ve already bought only because of a sale and I still cringe at the mention of the word so early.
Hahaha…a good sale IS hard to resist, Catherine 🙂
I agree with you. Shopping is hard work. That’s why I feel that Amazon is heaven-sent. 🙂
Amazon is pretty great, Imelda 🙂
Love this, Janna. I hate how quickly retailers want to shove us forward into the next seasonal event. Ugh. After I buy some Halloween candy on sale, I plan to lock myself indoors for awhile…..where there is NO risk of accidentally hearing Christmas music 😉
Sounds like a good plan, C.C. I have to buy groceries today…I might take a peek to see if they have any Halloween candy left. (Like I need it!) I think Christmas music fits in well after Thanksgiving- in moderation!
This makes me think of a job I had several years ago. They played Feliz Navidad at least three times a day. My friend commented that she was going to go nuts if she heard the song again…so being a good friend, I hummed it every time I passed by her. (Joke was on me, though…I couldn’t get the song out of my head no matter how many times I banged my forehead on my desk!)
I hate shopping – I hate the thought of shopping. I too hide online.
Online is a good place to hide from it all. Here’s to survival, Kelly 🙂
Wonderful yesterday when I read and again today!
Thanks so much for reading…glad you liked this one, UBU!
This is very creative, so well done!
Thanks, Ye Pirate!
Most festivities are so commercialised now. I’m not into shopping and more so during these rush periods.
Love those costumes though 🙂
I prefer to focus on the spirit of a holiday rather than what can be bought to celebrate. Glad you like the costumes, Eric! Each year, I challenge the boys to think up and put together a costume for $20 or less. (The packaged costumes are easy, but I want them to be creative and original. Plus, they have fun with it!)
Around here this was starting before Halloween!
I’m so sorry about that, Draug!
Online is the best hiding place. 🙂
I’m glad you think so, too, Archita. Here’s to not getting trampled in the crowds 🙂
So very true! This is why I love Amazon.com. Although, that holds a different sort of danger for me. They make spending money oh so convenient with their free, fast shipping.
Oh, don’t get me started on Amazon, Ivy! Last night, my husband checked email and asked what I ordered from Amazon. I stared at him blankly because I was trying to figure out which order he saw the shipping notice for 🙂
This made me chuckle. Can’t believe people go fight for space in shops this far in advance. Having Christmas music in October is enough to send me to the internet. Click away I say! Thanks for linking up!
I used to handle the holiday crowds a lot better than I do now. It’s all I can do to get through a Costco shopping trip without leaving totally frazzled.
OMG! Someone who hates shopping too! No wonder I like you. Amazon is my favorite place to shop, and if the warehouse nearby had a drive through, I’d be there, too!
Well, I don’t mind leisurely trips to the store, Tina. What I can’t handle is the crowds. I do think it’s hereditary…when my parents need to go to Wal Mart, they visit the 24-hour one after midnight 🙂
I’m all for the drive through at Costco. I usually leave that store completely stressed out.
Awesome Halloween costumes, especially the boy in red posing with the sword. So cool! Ugh, I am not looking forward to the madness that is holiday shopping. I’ve decided to do all my shopping online this year if possible. If I go to the mall, then it’s most likely to people watch. I’ve also never shopped on Black Friday. It’s so dangerous!
Thanks, Ymmas. They put together their costumes on a limited budged. My younger son was a knighted samurai (possibly zombified??)
Black Friday can be scary. We’ve always avoided going for electronics, but my husband and I have ventured out for things like pajamas, slippers, clothes for the boys, a griddle, etc. Basically, the things no one else is going for 🙂
A knighted zombified samurai. Totally. Awesome. 😀
Hahaha, that’s so smart to shop for those items. I didn’t realize how great the prices must be for them because I’m always thinking of electronics when I think of Black Friday.
That’s what we count on if we go out on Black Friday 🙂 Sure, the electronics are enticing, but for me, not worth possibly being trampled!
This is a delightful standalone piece, and I love what you’ve done with the prompt. There’s meat on these bones – or perhaps some melted chocolate – enough to sustain me throughout the entire work.
Chocolate is nice, even if its melted 🙂 There’s nothing else to this story (except surviving to celebrate the holidays), but I’m glad you stopped by to read it 🙂
LOVE this fun take!
Thanks, Whimsy! It’s all fun until you’re the one trampled by deal stealers 🙂
Legit! haha, This sets the tone perfectly for the upcoming holiday madness.
Thanks for chuckling along, Leah! It’s a crazy time of year, for sure 🙂
Yup, look for me online! Even here I can be hard to find.
Great one, Janna! (and cute photo!)
Thanks, Kymm. Clicking is along is so much better than fighting crowds 🙂
Ha!ha!This was funny with a “reality” kick ;-)Don’t blame those”poor” retailers tho-hard times need hard sell or the economy will just disappear(chuckling)
Yeah, poor retailers 🙂 Thanks for reading, Atreyee!
Ha!ha!You know I love reading what you write Janna:-)
Aw, thanks, Atreyee 🙂
🙂
clever 🙂
Thanks, Patty! I appreciate you reading it 🙂
Great costumes!
Thanks, Patti!