Mt. Prospect woman's Black Friday adventure

After watching TV and looking at the ads in the newspapers for the past two weeks about Black Friday, I got a notion to join in this ritual. I went to bed early Thanksgiving night, anticipating a very busy Friday.

I got up at 2 a.m., drank some coffee, ate a small breakfast and drove off to Woodfield.

When the mall doors opened, there was a stampede of high school and college kids. I headed to Victoria's Secret after weaving in and out of the people, but little did I know that all those thousands of kids were also headed there too. The entire mall floor in front of Victoria's Secret's three doors was at least 20 people deep.

Finally the doors opened and all those thousands of people pushed into the store at once. It was an absolute mob scene! You would think that the store said, “All clothes are free.”

I thought how crazy I was to go into this store, but I continued on my adventure. I got some items and waited in line that moved 1/16th of an inch every 20 minutes, and kept thinking that this is insanity and I'm joining in this atmosphere!

I stuck out my mission through girls fainting, paramedics arriving, clerks braced against the walls from the crowds, line cutting, people bumping into you and numerous bruises on my body.

After over two hours in line, I paid for my items, left the store free at last from the mobs. I vowed never to be part of this Black Friday tradition again, even if I have to lock myself up somewhere!

Still recovering,

Georgene K. McShane

Mount Prospect