In my college days at UF, football season was the highlight of the year. The packed stadium was abuzz with energy, and a close game would keep us in our seats until the end of the very last play. The rush of all those students and fans exiting through the Swamp tunnel/gates created a bottleneck like I haven't seen again until Midnight Madness at Sawgrass Mills! Deja vu!!

I went alone, much to the chagrin of my family, the early birds who can't stay up past 10pm. Nice to know they care...but I never for one moment felt apprehensive in the well lighted parking lots, bustling with folks coming and going.

Once inside...it felt like every school in Broward County bused in their total student body and added them to the entire worldwide membership of the Shoppers Anonymous Organization. It was a feast for people-watchers, seeing the melting pot of South Florida, but not fun if you wanted to do some serious shopping. Every language was represented, and the only overloaded shopping carts I noticed were being pushed by non-English speaking shoppers

There was a line to get into the Coach store in the Colonnade, and long lines to check out at Ralph Lauren Polo in the Oasis. Radio Shack was letting shoppers in a few at a time, the rest were held outside by the metal barrier gates. I was warned to stay away from BrandsMart.

If you were too tired after the big meal to start shopping at midnight, don't worry, be happy, as the song says!! I found a few things, but the sales just weren't that great. I had to leave because if one more person ran over my heels with their stroller, I was going to lose it! (Yes, strollers, lots of them, at midnight. Maybe Sawgrass Mills should start offering parenting classes.)

What did you find?

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