It’s not what you’re thinking.  I hate shopping even when it’s 9 p.m and the stores are about to close and no one is there except cashiers nervously hoping I’ll finish my shopping so they can go home.  This is not a problem.  I rarely linger.  First of all, I don’t want much.  Shopping is a chore for me, nothing more.  A necessary evil to get new underwear or replace my cotton tees that are coffee stained and unwearable.  Therefore, don’t ever expect me to go out on Black Friday at all let alone camp out the night before. 

I worked instead.  Had three patients, one to discharge, one a regular visit, and one an “open.”  The last one was the open and I spend about an hour and a half  meeting the patient, discussing the plan, doing the endless bureaucratic paperwork required by Medicare.  This patient’s daughter was having a garage sale. 

I’m not a garage sale junkie, either, but I can’t resist taking a look.  I averted my eyes as I was led into the home, right past the tables of stuff, in through the garage door.  The used medical equipment alone was a travelling therapist’s dream – I’ve quite a collection of equipment that can be used on a trial basis before the patient decides to purchase, or if they need something temporarily.  I told myself I don’t NEED any more medical equipment, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to walk past it all again without at least handling a vase or other doo-dad.

The visit went well – lovely lady, lovely daughter, not a bad way to spend the day after Thanksgiving work day.  Then it was time to leave.  I did the best I could, I really did, but there it was: a glider chair, something I’ve always wanted but a) I am too cheap to buy and b)I am trying not to buy new stuff anymore.  The cushions looked good, a forest green color.  It just needed one little rung on the foot stool reglued – no problem!  I sat in it – aahhh!  And…it was $20!  I had no cash but asked them to save it for me, drove a couple of miles away to the nearest ATM, managed to rearrange all the travelling therapist stuff in my car so the chair would fit (love that Subaru Forester!) and I headed for home, all smiles.

Arriving home I took the usual rash of abuse: Mom!  It doesn’t go with the living room!  It set our living room decor back five years! Little did I know that my home, which has resembled a boys’ locker room for the last twenty years, would suddenly need to be ready just in case Architectural Digest drops in with a camera crew.  I had to agree that the unstained pine wood is pretty ghastly, but I’ve refinished chairs, cabinets, built a dollhouse and assisted my son in replacing a driver’s side door window.  I think I can get it up to snuff just in case we are to be featured in AD. 

I had my own personal brand of Black Friday.  I am proud of my desire to stop purchasing new things if I can find them in a used store or garage sale.  I save money, I save a few resources – decreasing that carbon footprint, is that what we call it now?  That all sounds very altruistic but I am just so happy I finally have my glider chair for just twenty bucks!  It’s also kind of nice because even though that patient will be seen from here on out by another therapist, I was just the “opener,” I will always remember her – limited to a scooter due to rheumatoid arthritis and no hip joints, but she and her daughter and their great sense of humor made working the day after Thanksgiving no so bad, and I even get  to say I got some great deals on Black Friday.