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NOTE: If you’re checking into Squawk for the first time today, scroll down to read part one of this blog, below.

Now then. Where were we? Ah, yes. I had just gotten in line at Toys R Us at 5:30 on one of the coldest mornings of the year to wait for what I hoped would be at least six Nintendo Wiis, on account of I was number six in line. My getting out of my car generated a mass exodus of everyone else waiting in theirs, so within moments, there were another five people behind me.

We made the sort of chitchat one makes when one is among others who are foolish enough to undertake Christmas Quests in the freezing night, until around 6:00, when two stockers came outside for a cigarette break. After we pumped them for info, one reported there were twelve Wiis inside. Of course, I already had a salesclerk laughing his ass off at my expense (or he would be, once he woke up in his nice, warm bed), so I remained skeptical. Still, with eleven of us in line and an alleged twelve available, we were feeling pretty good.

Not long after receiving this intel, another member joined our group. Number twelve, the cutoff number (or so we told him he allegedly was). There was much rejoicing, and we all settled in to wait again. About this time, the subject of the PlayStation 3 came up, and I mentioned I had scored one by sheer dumb luck. Number five offered me $700 cash for it, and we agreed we’d make the exchange later in the day.

Numbers thirteen and fourteen showed up within minutes of each other, and neither was dissuaded by the alleged twelve figure. Until the manager of the store came out around 7:00 and verified there were indeed twelve systems to be had. After that, number thirteen offered $250 extra to anyone in line who would let him buy their Wii instead of taking it home themselves. Number three accepted. Number fourteen decided to hang around anyway, just in case someone’s card got declined.

Around 7:30, number five offered to buy coffee for everyone. Number thirteen said he’d chip in for doughnuts. Number fourteen offered to make the run if we saved her spot. We heartily agreed.

Over coffee and doughnuts, I began to learn more about my comrades. Number one was buying a Wii for her two new stepsons. Number two was buying a third Wii for her third (adult) son, because she hadn’t been able to buy them such things when they were boys. Number five’s wife had recently undergone surgery but was recovering nicely. Numbers seven and eight were talking about getting married. Number thirteen’s son was in the same program for gifted kids that mine is. Number fourteen had a very irreverent outlook on life.

All in all, it ended up being one of the nicest mornings I ever spent anywhere. Because for a few hours that bitter cold morning, fourteen people came together and shared pieces of their lives and bits of themselves with each other. They were courteous and friendly and decent, these strangers in the night. They were patient and warm and funny and generous. They were all the things people should be when thrown together under any circumstances. And, frankly, that was totally worth getting out of my nice, warm bed at a godforsaken hour on a Sunday morning for.

Happy Holidays, everybody.

Okay, so how about you? Have you ever faced what you thought would be an onerous task with dread, only to have it wind up being a wonderful experience? Ever been trapped with strangers in an unlikely situation? What would YOU wait in the cold for hours to acquire?