I was watching the television news on Black Friday. The reporter interviewed three people shopping around a mall. I watched rather passively because I am not a shopper. I simply do not enjoy walking from one store to another browsing around to see who has the best prices or deals. When I do go out, I have a list in hand and specifically look for that item or items — buy it and go home.
After the newscast moved on to another item, one thing hit me. All three of these people interviewed were shopping for themselves. Never did any one of them refer to a list of things to buy someone else for Christmas — incredible.
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