Christmas from both sides of the fence A loud buzzing noise wakes you from a very sound sleep. You look at your alarm clock and realize that it is 4 o'clock in the morning. You wonder why you are up so early as you make your way to the kitchen for a bite to eat. You open up your refrigerator only to find a half eaten turkey and several Tupperware containers full of leftover sweet potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Then it hits...it is the dreaded annual Black Friday. Now if you're in the majority of the American population. that 4 a.m. alarm began your first official day of the Christmas 2000 shopping season. If you are in the minority of the American population, that 4 a.m. alarm began just another day of the Christmas 2000 retail season. Although the consumer has been known to spend the money on Black Friday, and the retailer has been known to make the money on Black Friday, both groups have to withstand the pushing, the shoving, the lines, and the stress. As both a retail employee and customer, I was blessed with the privilege of experiencing the retail and the customer side of Black Friday 2000. My day began at 5 a.m. A cappuccino and some comfortable shoes accompanied me as I began my day. Grove City was my destination, and only a few select leftover gifts were my goal. I have always had good luck shop ping at the Grove City Outlet Mall on Black Friday, and this year was no exception. Finding a parking spot was easy, lines were few and far between, and the sales and discounts just kept appearing out of nowhere By 1 p.m. 1 was home and relaxed. Getting home earlier than I expected gave me extra time to regroup and recuperate before I began my turn as the retailer. The time passed too quickly, and before I knew it, it was 5 p.m. and time to start my evening shift at my retail Pizza Outlet rim I , F [l-17 ; . A Large One Topping Pizza and 2 cans of soda for 4055 Buffalo Road 897-1818 job. As I made my way past the crowds, and into the store, several relieved and smiling faces greeted me. The poor sales associates that had barely survived the peak hours of Black Friday were free to go home for the day. After four hours of whining customers, mile-long lines and demolished displays, I thought to myself, "was I really that bad earlier in the day?" Resting my tired feet and sipping some hot tea later that evening, I began to brainstorm. I thought about all of the similarities of the day. Contrary to popular belief, the stress and the pressure of being a retail employee is very similar to the stress and the pressure that the customer feels. I knew at that point that I was really looking too deeply into the situation. All in all, there wouldn't be one without the other. Both sides balance each other out, and both sides are necessary to make the economy what it is today. I decided to look at the situation more lightly. So that is where "The 12 Days of Christmas from Both Sides of the Counter" comes into play. (You know it's amazing what you think of when you are com pletely drained and exhausted.) Note: this is just a play on words of the original Christmas Carol. This is not meant to offend anyone...it is just for fun. "The 12 Days of Christmas from Both Sides of the Counter" On the first day of Christmas shopping season, the retail world $7 99 NOW HIRING Full and Part Time Flexible Hours Competitive Wages gave to me, a broken ornament t Chat on a display tree. Change On the second day of the Christmas istine Kleck shopping season, gave to me, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the third day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the fourth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the fifth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the sixth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display On the seventh day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the eighth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, eight cars a' honking, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the ninth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, nine sales associates T.,.. D , ~.., .•::. r„-; . . , ...,....„. ~ ~i , . .. , t.i . '' ' il 6„ ri • --- ' .L.... ..1...1 SEM running, eight cars a' honking, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the tenth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, ten shoppers weeping, nine sales associates running, eight cars a' honking, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the eleventh day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, eleven candy canes cracking, ten shoppers weeping, nine sales associates running, eight cars a' honking, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. On the twelfth day of the Christmas shopping season, the retail world gave to me, twelve bargainers bargaining, eleven candy canes cracking, ten shoppers weeping, nine sales associates running, eight cars a' honking, seven shopping bags ripping, six credit cards charging, five angry customers, four long lines, three expired coupons, two fighting children, and a broken ornament on a display tree. There you have it. Hopefully this little song helped put a smile on your face after experiencing last Friday's bills, bruises, and stress. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, and a joyous new year. Don't let commercialization take over your Christmas season, good luck with your finals, and have a happy new year! '