What is your Message?

by Carrie Osborne

The night before the official kick off to the Christmas shopping season, my car broke down.  It being Thanksgiving and all I decided to be thankful for making it home just as the alternator went out.  I am also thankful that the car can be repaired.  However, I am finding it difficult to be thankful for being forced into using public transportation on the biggest shopping day of the year in order to save a few bucks on Christmas presents.

I went through the sales papers last night.  I made my list and checked it twice.  I added people both times and I am not checking it again. 

My purse already seemed like a heavy burden laden with the change necessary to ride the bus.  It was behind schedule most likely due to all the lucky people driving their cars.  The bus was half full and I was able to snag a whole bench to spread out.  I settled in to watch people get on and off.  My stop would not be fo