So Thanksgiving came and went. Where did I spend it? The only place I have ever felt comfortable spending it. Best Buy Aiea. Yes, I actually did it again. 5 years in a row. Yes I got what I waited in line for. But just wanted to share my experience as this was kind of different from many of the previous years.
To begin my story, let me start from Tuesday. One of my classmates told me he was interested in standing in line to get a laptop. Then he mentioned to me that there was a family that had camped at Best Buy since Saturday. I hella tripped out. As far as my knowledge goes, that would be the record. I could swear me and Blaine had the record of camping out on a Wednesday at 5p. That record would be in 2009. That year it also rained a little bit as well.
So thoughts in my head ran rampant. If there was a family at Best Buy since Saturday, by the time I got to Best Buy, I was quite sure that there would be others that would have like a panic attack. My classmate however was making plans though to bring out his tent and a barbecue grill. But I already knew better that he was just going to flake out. He flaked out the previous year. So I didn't hold my breath. However, I had made other plans with another one of my classmates that really did need a laptop. She just asked me some general questions though and I had answered it based on previous experience. I also told her though that I would make my way to Aiea around 7ish pm.
Wednesday, classmate #1 flaked out as I knew he would. Classmate #2 told me that she still wants the laptop. So I decided to Best Buy I shall be. I went back to my place and changed clothes, packed a beach chair, blanket, and mat then caught the bus. During the ride, thoughts were going on through my head, great, I am going to know no one. And I was right. I get to the parking lot and many thoughts overwhelmed me. Some of the people ahead of me were trying to direct me the wrong direction. I total ignored them. I looked for the end of the line and found a girl and a guy sitting in their chairs chatting. I decided to join them.
We made our introductions, settled myself down, and then began to dread sitting there for another 28 long hours. Throughout the night, an older gentleman came down and sat next to me as he was next. We had an interesting conversation about how kids these days are growing up too fast and no longer want regular toys, they want the expensive electronic gadgets. Found out that he wanted the 42" flat screen tv that Best Buy advertised at $199.99. Found out also this was his first time camping out. However, after an hour passed, he finally decided to pack up as his wife kept texting him and giving him the guilt trip. "Thanksgiving is supposed to be time with the family." I told him if he wanted, I would save his spot. He gave me his number.
I thought to myself, oh great, I'm going to be bored. I wanted to grab a book from the library, however, by the time I got to the library, it was closed. So the only thing I had with me was my phone. And knowing there was no electric outlet anywhere outside, I decided to turn my phone off lest I spend the whole night on Facebook and drain my battery. I noticed the family that was #1 had a generator. However, I was a little shy about going up there and asking them to charge my phone. I then turned my attention to the girl in front of me and started up another wonderful conversation. Time seemed to fly fast as by the time I realized it, it was 11:30. 24:30 left to go.
The weather was not fun. It was 75 with a little bit of chill factor in it. It didn't help that I was only wearing a shirt, shorts and slippers. I grabbed my blanket and hoped that would keep me warm. For a small, thin blanket, it did its work. Then I started getting a little delirious. I was a little embarrassed, I think I would have been fine just sleeping on the chair as there were many others already doing so. However, the girl told me if I wanted to lay down, just lie down on her truck bed She would be ok with it. I hella took her up on her offer and knocked out. I might as well get some rest. I would fall asleep at 200am.
I woke up at 630am Thursday morning to a woman yelling at her daughter to wake up. The first thought that came to my mind, GHETTO! I tried to go back to sleep so that could burn off some more hours, however, my stomach was gnawing and I was hungry. I checked in my bag to see which snack I would chow down. I decided on a banana. I walked to the trash can to throw away the peel and smoke a cigarette, when the lady that was yelling came up to me and said good morning. I looked at her with gaunting eyes and wished her a good morning as well. Then we slowly started up a conversation. Her husband came to where we were and started telling us about how he went to Mickey Ds in the morning and it was closed. He was pissed. He had went to the place where you tell the operator your order. He didn't hear a sound so he drove to the window only to discover no one was insid ethe building. There went my idea for a vanilla iced coffee.
So me and Jane, and by then, another line stander came to where we were and we all just started getting to know each other. She was telling us why she decided to start camping out on Saturday. She has 10 kids and just wanted to make sure she got everything she wanted without having to play the waiting game. Hey I even admitted to her that I thought she was crazy. She said she has been videotaped, took many pictures, interviewed and was even on the news. But her reasoning made sense. I had to look back and remember why I went first in line before as well. So I definitely knew where she was coming from.
During the day, we sat and shared different stories of ourselves. She even introduced me to her family. As we sat in the hot sun, I got the sense that it was getting very uncomfortable. We saw a group of trees, and decided to sit underneath for the shade. I asked her though if I could charge my phone. She said sure, but only to discover, her generator needed gas. I tell you, Auntie Jane as she liked to be called, just was full of jokes and just kept the laughter going. Around 130pm, classmate #2 dropped by with a vegetarian plate for me. I was like, that was not necessary, however, she just wanted to make sure I wasn't starving. I felt special.
Time kept dragging on and I just kind have wondered why was I even doing this again? Anyhow, Auntie Jane decided to go back to her tent to lie down, while I stayed underneath the tree. Met up with another lady in line and we got to chatting. She was hoping to be able to get the $199 42" flat screen as well. Chances for her because of where she was in the line were pretty slim though. But she kept her fingers crossed though. I already felt sorry for her. Oh well.
Time kept dragging and finally, the time finally came. Mixed emotions ran rampant in my head. The vouchers were being passed out. Here we go again another end to another adventurous Black Friday. The one thing that's interesting is that as it got closer to the time of the door opening, many people who weren't in line at least during the day, all of a sudden came from no where. Most of us who hung out and talked up a storm now were huddled with our own. Time still started passing by slowly, but with each second ticking away, the excitement of rushing into the store kept building. Here we are ready to do this again. And the doors opened.
One of the reasons I like going to Best Buy's is that they really have good deals. They really do. This year, they offered a Samsung 15.6" for $299 and a 42" Sharp flat screen for $200.00 Damn good.
