Shrug off those high gas prices. To hell with the lead painted toys. There are material possessions to get.. and so little time to claim them. The average and typical shopping area today is more like an arena.. Gladiators (shoppers) matched up at the door, raging anger in their eyes while they search the store for their prize: That Wii, that iPhone.. that iMac, that X BOX. The struggle begins. The doors open, the alarm sounds. Who will win? A knockdown, drag out affair.. the victor claims the gift and the sound knowledge that he has won this match up on this Black Friday. He got his Wii. So here we are, the day after a warm Thanksgiving.. and now on Black Friday, a cold wave has swept the nation. But those busy stores are full and warm. The shopping season's hot gifts are most likely made in China. God hope there's no recalls by January. I think Christmas came out of nowhere this year--unlike previous years. It just showed up. It's ready for us even if we're not ready for it. So let the cash flow fast. Let those debit cards and credit cards burn up until midnight. Shop until you drop. And get up and shop again. And then you can get the rest of it Cyber Monday--the even BIGGER shopping day of the year.. Maybe if you finish shopping early enough you can focus on what Christmas really means.