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Published: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 / Updated: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 12:08 PM

Do your shopping early and don’t forget to share

This year an estimated 150 million shoppers filled the stores on Black Friday. I was not one of them! It is not my cup of tea and never will be. I cannot see myself in full combat gear, leaving my house in the middle of the night to purchase a big ticket item I know nothing about. I don’t know what the stats will be on the new Thanksgiving evening shopping, but I think opening the stores to shop on a family holiday is absolutely ridiculous! I feel sorry for the sales clerks having to leave their nice comfy homes and families to work into the night with hundreds of rowdy shoppers.

My perfect day to shop is Tuesday. I leave early, stop and get some coffee and a jelly doughnut, plan my strategy, motivate myself and drive to the mall for just one day of the holiday season. The rest of my shopping is done at businesses right around here. These local businesses have so much more to offer. They know their merchandise, and the personal service is great.

My family list is not long, but my wish list for the unfortunate grows more every year.

Here are some ideas if you are in the sharing mode this year:

• Pick an Angel from the Angel Tree.

• Buy a gift for a foster child.

• Donate to the local food pantries. (There is one in Indian Land at Bel Air United Methodist Church.)

• Give a warm coat or blanket to the homeless shelter.

• Give a monetary or food donation to the animals.

• Donate to USO/Wounded Warriors.

• Donate to Salvation Army.

This is only a short list and I am sure everyone has their own ideas, but do share. It makes you feel good.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie.