I have to work today. In fact, I have to work 365 days per year, every year, every day. If I didn't work, then dozens of families could not go on trips and vacations, because they would have no one to take care of their pets. I own a boarding kennel.

When I used to work in retail, they would give us a choice and let us sign up for working holidays. We were never forced. And, without fail, there were always more people wanting to work the holiday than there were shifts available. A holiday which also fell on a weekend was sometimes double our regular pay rate! I didn't mind working holidays, because you only work eight hours, at the most. You can always have your family celebration or whatever you choose to do during the other sixteen hours of the holiday.

I'm personally always thrilled and grateful to find a store open on a holiday. Not that I want to spend all day on the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving shopping for new shoes or anything ... but invariably I need something. I'll invite 30 people over for a BBQ and one of the dogs will get on the kitchen counter and eat all the hamburger buns an hour before we're supposed to eat. Or I'll be soooo sure I have a dozen eggs in the carton when I get ready to make pies Thanksgiving morning ... and my son will have scrambled ten of them for a snack the night before. Thank goodness some stores are open on holidays, for people like me!