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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 24, 2005 Standing in line after some last-minute shopping Friday at Harry and David are Derek Radaford and 6-year-old Gracen of Jacksonville, and Lily, 9, Claire, 6, and Rhonda Hawkins of Medford. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Heavy traffic, crowded stores and no parking spots — ah, the joys of last-minute shopping By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Long lines, snarled traffic and a sense of panic greeted shoppers Friday as they made last-minute dashes to purchase holiday gifts. "I’m just starting Christmas shopping," Rogue River resident Mary Wigly admitted as she rushed through the parking lot at Poplar Square shopping center in Medford. "I’ve never waited this long in my life to do my shopping. I’m usually done in October." The yuletide finish line arrives tonight. Until then, vendors said, they don’t expect the crowds to wane. Advertisement "Tomorrow is going to be the big day for ‘point and pay’ gentlemen," Dorie Herndon, customer sales manager at Olsen’s Blackbird Jewelry in Medford, said Friday. "They’ll pick anything in the case and say, ‘I’ll take that one.’ They just want something pretty, so they won’t be in the doghouse." So why do people delay shopping until one or two days before the holiday? Some shoppers blamed long work hours. Wigly, a financial broker, said she has been swamped at work and hasn’t had the time off she’s had in past years to get a jump on holiday shopping. "I work 10-hour days," said White City resident Steve Penney, who shopped at Olsen’s. "I get off at 2 a.m. in the morning. This was the last day I had to shop." Others confessed to making last-minute shopping an annual habit. "I always do," said Ashland resident Trevor Ross as he waited in line to purchase two packages of truffles at Harry and David. "I was hoping to get everything done here, but it didn’t work out." Ross said he made a feeble attempt to start shopping last weekend but was deterred by the crowds. "This year has been the worst (as far as traffic)," he said. "I went to the mall and drove right back out." Along Crater Lake Highway, westbound traffic jammed intermittently during lunchtime for more than two miles between the Webfoot Road intersection and the Rogue Valley Mall. Traffic bottlenecked at the Biddle Road underpass and other intersections. The inconveniences of holiday shopping at stores have prompted some residents to buy gifts online. One of them was Phoenix resident Rod Burton, who stood in line Friday at Harry and David to purchase several packages of sweetmeats. "I did all my shopping online, so I didn’t have to go do what I’m doing today," Burton quipped. "These are for all the ‘I didn’t know you were going to be here’ family members." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail Heavy traffic, crowded stores and no parking spots � ah, the joys of last-minute shopping ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Advertisement s