It’s shopping season. Time to put on the smiles, break out the work gloves and start hauling the stuff into the back seat of a way too small car. It is time to make the list. Check it twice. Lose it between the car and the store and then descend into the maelstrom of chaos that makes holiday shopping such a chore.
This is usually the time, aside from Fair Week, when people meet up with those they have not seen in a year or more. Of course once meeting then it is a gab fest as each tries to outdo the other with the outrageous acts of silliness and tragedy that have come about in the previous 12 months. Who’s been married; had a baby; lost a relative; been divorced; and is seeing someone new. In short, It’s gossip time!
This is mentioned because the great gathering place where this never ending conversation is taking place happens to be the narrow aisles of ye olde Wal-Mart. Under the florescent lights in tidy rows and stone white linoleum tiles (One would think that Lowes would be able to sell the retailer some true sunlight bulbs to take away the harshness of the light) hundreds of shoppers descend on the mission of the season: Finding that perfect gift for small bits of sincerity and lots of charity.
Ye Olde Village Wal-Mart is organized on a grid. This is so that the elf robots can restock the shelves in the wee hours of the next shopping day. Cavernous mountains of boxes, bundles, and amusements march in rows and ranks like soldiers on the Nutcracker’s field of battle. Soldierly crews of minions struggle to manage the vast unwashed species of humanity that crawl into the cave seeking their treasures for another season.
Checkout lines are hidden by mountainous gum piles. There is no mirror on the eastern wall that would allow a customer to size up the speed of cashiers and customers.
Riding herd on the crowd is usually some diminutive robot-like creature with wires and headgear to make an aboriginal chief proud. Heaps of classic candy, tires, window washer stand guard throughout the store. No play area for tired and bored youngsters who voice their concerns. Frazzled parents trying to hide one kid’s surprise from the other. From this chaos, on Christmas morning all will be forgiven.
The toys will be admired and discussed only to be replaced by the boxes, wrappers and bows turned into castles and forts. Tables, towels, teas, and tenders will all be laid out, enjoyed and added to the pile of stuff gathered for another year. Pay these gifts forward and celebrate the peace and joy that the season brings.
Orpheus Allison is a photojournalist living in The County who graduated from UMPI and earned a master of liberal arts degree from the University of North Carolina. He began his journalism career at WAGM television later working in many different areas of the US. After 20 years of television he changed careers and taught in China and Korea.
