Write to the Point Last minute shopping is just another deadline

I've stayed away from the shopping crazes of Black Friday and the day after Christmas. In part, it's because I have no desire to really partake in waiting in line for a deal, but also because I enjoy as few headaches around the holidays as possible.

I am, however, one who tends to do quite a bit of shopping the day before Christmas. Most say it's insanity to go buy gifts at that time, but it's a test of manhood to brave a mall and make it out alive that day. Yes, I know, that conflicts with my last statement of headaches. But, this year was a delightful surprise.

Despite my best attempts to find gifts before the 24th, once again, I found myself pulling into Spokane with the expectation of spending most of the day waiting in lines. Either that or I was thinking my trip would take several hours to find an empty parking spot some 20 miles away as the snow piled up.

To my surprise, neither of those were the case.

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Instead, I found both the Northtown Mall and River Park Square relatively calm, with plenty of available parking. No lines to find a spot, nor any to check out from the store. It had to be a post-Festivus miracle!

There are times throughout the year when both malls are jam-packed with shoppers, school groups and those looking to kill a few hours. Hoopfest makes River Park Square almost unbearable in terms of foot traffic, and likely had more people shopping than on Christmas Eve.

Sure, part of the frustration comes out of a mall or store's design. Cars lining up to leave can culminate in an hour's wait if a mall's parking system isn't designed right. It's the headache that any last minute shopper dreads, with the exception of last Saturday.

Or, perhaps, I just missed the rush.

Although the numbers aren't in just yet, many analysts are expecting this year's shopping season to be on track. But, by the looks of the mall last Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised if the final totals don't live up to the hype.

It seems that even though financial news shows and articles have spread the message of a recovery, we're still feeling the pinch of a penny and the rise of food prices. Turkey, for instance, was around 22 percent more expensive than last year, at some stores. According to some estimates, our Thanksgiving dinner last month cost an average of $50, up from $35 last year despite a large increase in the amount of food stored on the shelves.

Turning back to Christmas shopping, it seemed that with the lack of crowds at shopping malls in the area, much of the merchandise is still on the shelves.

We turned to post-Christmas sales, which were also sure to spawn some sort of uptick in the market. Thankfully, the end of the holiday season will mark the end of the elusive close parking spot. Great opportunities come with a new year. It's a chance to right some wrongs, and figure out better ways of doing things in life, such as shopping for Christmas gifts.

Sure, I could learn my lesson and take a little time earlier in the month to purchase a few gifts, but I'd be missing out on all the traditional fun of last minute shopping. There's a certain thrill to it. It's the rush of a deadline.

And a journalist lives or dies by the deadline.