You'll never meet someone who loves Black Friday shopping as much as me. Even if my bank account is empty and I'm half asleep and stuffed with turkey, you will always catch me driving to Target and the mall at midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving every year. It's become a tradition with my mom and I. For years, I begged my mom and aunt to let me go Black Friday shopping with them even as a kid and since I finally became old enough to go, I go every year. Most of the time I leave empty handed and I'm still content. I love the atmosphere of the stores being open so late and everyone ringing in the Christmas season. But, looking back on the ghost of Black Friday's past, stores seem to be opening earlier and earlier each year.

I have worked one Black Friday season in a retail position and let me tell you, it is wild. All my respect and love goes out to every retail worker this Black Friday. Last year was my one time working retail on Black Friday and hopefully my last. I went into work at 6 pm that Thursday. I had to leave in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner while my family was still on their first serving of the feast to go clock into work. It was the most heart-wrenching thing having to leave my family. I can't imagine people having to do this every year. It is ridiculous.

This year Best Buy is opening at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dick's Sporting Goods at 6 p.m., JCPenny at 2 p.m., Target at 5 p.m., and Walmart at 6 p.m. A lot of other major retailers are still determining their open time but by the trend, they will probably be opening around 5 to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving day in the midst of dinner. A lot of retailers have taken initiative to remain closed on Thanksgiving for this very reason but not all of them.

Now, I don't mean to sound all preachy here but we are losing the true meaning behind the holiday season. The holidays are about spending time with family and loved ones. Not about getting the best deal as soon as possible on a TV or gaming device you definitely don't need. Chances are if you are an adult, driving yourself to the store, using your hard earned money to buy the gifts you need, then you can muster up the energy to stay up a few extra hours until midnight to shop on Black Friday like it used to be years ago.

If only we could get corporate America to listen to this then maybe we can get our Thanksgiving dinner back.