The subject line has been my motto for many years. So I truly don’t know what got into me when I decided it would be fun to get up early Friday morning and join the crazy masses on a shopping spree.

The alarm went off at 5:30 am. Dad was out back, headlights blazing into my kitchen window, by 5:45 am. And we were off with warm McDonalds biscuits in our hands for an early morning adventure.

My goal was to avoid sections of stores that appealed to me — afterall, I was aiming to Christmas shop for others — so I consider it lucky that I came home with only one item for myself (hey, boots were marked down by 50%!). Sears was handing out doughnut holes to keep patrons fat and happy. Target was insanely busy, but as Dad pointed out, we enjoyed a lovely sunrise through their front windows while waiting our turn in the checkout line. Bath & Body was an estrogen extravaganza with my father as the lone carrier of male hormones in the shop, whereas Penneys was full of shoppers of every sex and ethnicity, most looking a bit brainwashed and weary by all the “doorbuster” items blocking the walkways. Or perhaps that was just the way I felt; Penneys was our last stop.

Dropped off at home by 8:45 am, I was giddy on a shopping high and gushed over my savings and purchases to my sweet husband who fulfilled his husbandly duties by nodding along and attempting to feign enthusiasm.

The coolest thing about the morning was that I got to be with my Dad. There’s not a lot of time these days for us to hang out alone, without the Wee One in tow, much less to head off for an adventure together. I realize that my Dad is the ONLY person who would have enjoyed this early morning hustle-and-bustle with me… and that made Black Friday even more fun.

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the one day of the year I can stand spending my morning hours in something other than my favorite pasttime, sleep.