The Insanity of Holiday Shopping

Today I went decided to go Christmas shopping.  At first I felt excited to go pick out new items for myself and friends but by the end of the day I felt drained and annoyed.  I realized the insanity of all the madness surrounding holiday shopping through this experience.  Starting off in the parking lot, I fought people off for parking spaces. Everyone cuts one another off and races to find the open spot.  Then once I enter the mall I join the herd of people wandering aimlessly around.  I step into line and meander over to a promising looking store.  I find it torn apart from shoppers before me with clothes strewn about.  Current shoppers franticly push piles from side to side trying to locate the best the best item before someone else does.  Of course the first store I go into I cannot find anything so I continue onto the next store.  Eventually I find something I like and to proceed to the line for the register, extending almost out the doorway.  I stand there patiently waiting my turn.  I look around and observe the many different shoppers in the store: mothers and daughters arguing, numerous fathers and brothers waiting impatiently in chairs nearby and tons of children crying, exhausted from walking around.  I stand there quietly waiting my turn, looking forward to leaving the store.  As I near the front of the line the cash register abruptly stops working so I am forced into another line, taking more time.  My sister standing beside me starts singing along to the upbeat Christmas music playing from the stores speakers.  I did not notice the music before, partially from the loud madness surrounding me and partially just tuning it out.  The day continued on like this with varying differences based on the store: Bath and Body Works also included an overpowering aroma which almost knocks me out, Delia’s was holding a massive sale so packs of teen girls openly fought for items, Sephora had girls walking around with faces half done badly with mix match make-up.  At the end of the day I slowly make my way to the parking lot relieved to breathe in fresh air.  I wander around for a few more minutes, trying to remember where I parked, and then gladly head home.  It made me realize the madness behind this whole ordeal and the irony in the insanity which takes place for a happy celebration.  In many ways it made me think of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.  How Bromden would look down upon the Combine’s praise of such a strange custom.  How everyone becomes accustomed to certain habits and do not think much of it.  Or how humans can focus just on themselves and disregard the others around them.  In many ways holiday shopping can seem very insane.