The thrill of the chase. The mouthwatering aroma of full ovens. Adrenaline pumping through veins as the race continues. The stress of tablecloths and place settings. Animalistic growls bounce through congested aisles.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone. The turkey has been eaten and the credit cards have been maxed out. For some Lane students it was time to choose between the turkey and the television. And some Lane students found a happy medium between television and turkey.

With stores like Target and Best Buy open as early as 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, some people decided to skip the meal in order to find a good deal.

Michelle Kwoh went Black Friday shopping at Woodfield Mall after she had a small meal with her family. Kwoh got caught up in the Black Friday madness and splurged on a pair of jeans.

“There are great sales. I went to Urban Outfitters and American Apparel and I was really happy with my purchases. I might have gone a little crazy, but I at least got a little Christmas shopping done and I did some leisure shopping too,” Kwoh said.

Thanksgiving was not a big event in the Kwoh household. They ate dinner with close family and friends. They talked a little. Then everyone went their separate ways.

“Thanksgiving isn’t really a blown-up holiday in my house. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, going shopping on Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for my family every day. But Thanksgiving is just another day for us,” Kwoh said.

The pants were worth missing the turkey and stuffing any day, according to Kwoh.

Some Lane students are trying to find the right balance between turkeys and televisions. Some families had a dinner with their loved ones and then headed out at seven or eight at night to do their shopping. Lane senior Demeris Drew, Div. 555, had a Thanksgiving dinner and then went Black Friday shopping around nine.

“We have a system. One family member will go to one store and another will go to a different store to get different things. I like going to Target and Walmart gaming stores. It’s amazing because you practically get free stuff,” said Drew. While some Lane students found some thrifty deals on Thanksgiving, some students stayed in with their families and celebrated Thanksgiving the traditional way.

Melissa Baldjieva, Div. 652, didn’t go shopping on Thanksgiving. However, she did go Black Friday shopping on Friday.

Baldjieva takes pride in how close and family-orientated her family is. Baldjieva comes from Bosnian and Hungarian descent. She said her family is traditional in the sense that family time is more important than shopping.

“I had a Thanksgiving dinner with my family. I wanted to spend the holiday with them. It’s always nice to see the people in your family that you don’t often get to see,” Baldjieva said.

Even though Baldjieva didn’t go Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving, she did go shopping on Friday. Baldjieva felt that it was not necessary to go Black Friday shopping on a day when it is supposed to be about family.

“It’s called Black Friday for a reason, right? It’s not Black Thursday,” Baldjieva said.

Baldjieva stressed that she feels that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day that includes family and friends. She said that shopping will always be there but the time you have with your family is limited.

“Everyone needs to be grateful for what they have. But if people wanted to shop on Thanksgiving, then each their own. People should do what they want and they should be grateful for their happiness,” Baldjieva said.