We suspect that much of the joy seeped out of the season right about the time that Christmas shopping became about crack-of-dawn post-Thanksgiving treks to the mall to act like Stepford Wives following a script beamed into our brains by a television media that, coincidentally, was funded by big national retailers. And Cyber Monday? You’ve got to be kidding. It’s not only easy to shop local, it’s fun. And it keeps mom-and-pops alive and money in the local economy. So this year, think before you shop. (Brian Hieggelke)
