Friday, November 17, 2006

Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Christmas, New Years.....

I think this has to be my favorite time of year. Especially right now when we have beautiful fall weather with leaves every where you go and blue skies at the same time. I even have said before how much I LOVE the rain and wind storms. I can't get enough of them.

It leads into Thanksgiving, to winter then before you know it Christmas has jumped up and grabbed you. If you think about it Christmas is exactly 38 days away. I look at it this way sometimes; I only have 2 more pay checks before Christmas is here. That just seems out of control. It is so amazing how every year after Christmas everyone has a plan that they will start shopping earlier and be prepared so they aren't doing everything 2 days before Christmas. Guess what as much as I try it still happens that way and I am sure it will this year too. I don’t really know what to expect this year though. I usually have Christmas planned out in my head but really this year we have so much going on I am looking forward to it but I am not. I’m looking forward to family, friends, cookies, kids playing, music, SNOW (hoping), Christmas tree smell, warm cozy fires and all the joys that come with Christmas. But I just wish that we would have enough money to do everything we want to do for Christmas or everything I want to do. I am such a giving person and it is so hard for me to not be able to buy presents for people. It just hurts me inside. I just have to pray that I can be ok with it and know that my family knows what we are going through and understand. I just have to pray I can accept it. And know we aren’t the only ones.

Thanksgiving, that is another story; it is my favorite day of the year. A day to eat, be thankful, and enjoy each other without expectations. I absolutely LOVE this day. I used to hate it when I was little because I didn’t like choosing where I was going to go. My Mom’s or My Dad’s? Now it is easy I love it either way no matter where we go. The only thing I don’t like is when I don’t get Turkey and all the yummies that come with Thanksgiving. I had one year without and I WON’T do that again I just get sad and cranky. So this year I am so excited for all the football, family, and all day of eating!!!

So something has been bothering me. On October 13th Bono introduced and launched what is known as
(PRODUCT)RED.

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
What's the meaning of the parentheses or brackets? Well, we call them "the embrace." Each company that becomes
(RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red. Thus the name -- (PRODUCT)RED.
You, the consumer, can take your purchase to the power of
(RED) simply by upgrading your choice. Thus the proposition: (YOU)RED. Be embraced, take your own fine self to the power of (RED). What better way to become a good-looking Samaritan?!

To what has been bothering me. Why is it that when someone famous, like Bono or a large corporation does something good, people automatically assume that is a “marketing ploy”? Why can’t someone do something for a good cause and there not be an “underling” reason? Maybe I am naive and think the best of everyone but I really believe in
(PRODUCT)RED. Maybe it is because I work at GAP and have read so much about since August. Maybe I want to see the best in people. But really until you know everything must you think the worst?

1 comment:

Jesse and Sarah said...

Taneha,
Good to see you out here in cyberspace. (Product)Red. I haven't bought anything red yet, but I like the idea. And in my mind, even if it is a marketing ploy, at least they are doing something. Who cares if it is a marketing ploy, if they are going to donate money to a good cause it is better than me buying something else with no good cause at all. So really, if it is marketing ploy, the only people that should be pissed off are the ones who aren't selling red products because they are losing business.