Well, I can officially say that I am among the crazy people.
I ventured out of my bed at 5:30 am on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I ventured out of my house at 5:50 am and into the mall at 6:00 am. I can now say I have “been there.”
Rich says that there are doctors for this sort of thing. And admittedly, he is right. It IS crazy that the mall opens so early in the morning for holiday hours, and even crazier that people come. I tried to talk him into actually going with me, I told him, c’mon, it will be fun. We can wake up when it is still really dark outside, and even go into the mall before the sun comes up! And hey, if you go with me, I told him, we can get TWO free gifts in the stores we visit.
Now, my husband is very frugal, and as a result, I thought this notion of free gifts would allure him to visit the mall with me. But I was sadly (and drastically) mistaken.
Knowing him as well as I do, I think they would have to be giving away quality stainless steel grills to get him to go to the mall that early (or with that many people).
The reason I joined the throngs? Because I got a mailer for a couple of FREE items with ANY purchase (no minimum purchase required). I was on a mission. I went into those stores and bought a couple of Christmas gifts that I would have purchased anyway. But because it was 6 am on the magical Friday after Thanksgiving (and because some lunatic thought the idea of “doorbusters” was a brilliant idea), I was able to obtain some nice, free gifts with purchase.
And, here’s the kicker, I was back home and in bed at 7:30, before my slumbering husband even awoke.
This one goes out to all you crazy people who love a good bargain and will tolerate millions of people in order to get some shopping done! 
Crowds… {shudder}
Early morning greedy crowds at the mall before I’m even awake and sane enough to deal with them… {shudder, shudder}
I did get the brilliant idea that if I ever want my wife to get up earlier than she’s used to, I can just lean over and tell her that there’s a sale at the mall and they’re giving away free things but she’ll have to get up right then and there if she’s going to make it to the mall in time. That or throw cold water on her. Both result in me losing a limb so I let her continue to slumber. Besides, she so cute when she’s sleeping.
Okay girl you are more die hard than I. The alarm clock went off at 5am and Jeff and I turned it off and went back to sleep. Needless to say we missed some great bargains I know. However, we still got some free gifts at 10am at the mall.
Don’t worry Heath, Julie, Mom, and I were up by 4:30 and out there by 5. It’s our second year in a row.