On Black Friday, Crazy Americans, and Disappointment

My computer is slowly dying. Which is bad. So, my dad had this brilliant idea of going to find a new one on Black Friday when everything would be on sale. Good idea. I was totally up for it. My father asked if I was willing to wait on line in the cold for two hours while he slept in the car. I was. We picked through the ads, picked a few computers at two stores that looked promising and left the house at 3 a.m.

We got to the mall at about 3:15 and drove up to Best Buy, where we found a parking lot full of hundreds of people who looked like they'd moved in, complete with tents, blankets, and small children. We moved on to Circuit City where the line was shorter, though not quite short. My dad looked skeptical. I said I wanted to wait, my iPod and Japanese literature coursepack to keep me company. He retired to the car for a nap.

Two hours later, shivering and with some frozen toes, we got into the store. Only to find more lines. After utter exhaustion and disappointment, we left without a computer. My father expressed awe at my ability to stay in the cold that long to which I replied he underestimated my determination to get a working computer.

We ordered one online in the comfort and warmth of my home tonight. But I would venture that waiting on line in the cold on Black Friday is part of the American experience--the insane American experience, but the American experience nonetheless. So, I am now fully American. Or just fully insane.