I was recently home in Galveston for a mammogram followup (blog to follow). I flew into Houston from Caracas and Heidi picked me up and we drove straight to Victory Breast Diagnostics. My friend Susan Gaskill is the radiologist there and after several scans and an ultrasound I was given a clean bill of health. Nothing to worry about, not sure what they saw in Caracas, go home and have fun. I had scheduled enough time on my trip home for consultations, biopsies, etc... and found myself giddy with three more days ahead of me with basically nothing to do but celebrate.
The next day was a beautiful in Galveston. I was childless, husbandless, soaring with the knowledge that I did not have breast cancer, and a red hot credit card burning a hole in my pocket.
The only thing we buy in Caracas is food. Therefore, on trips home, I usually have a list of much needed items to bring back with me. Clothing items, food, and school supplies usually top the list. I am used to spending more money than I ever considered normal before - as I am cramming months of shopping into one visit.
I had not been to Target in four months. I walked in with my list of essentials - which may have added up to about $400 or $500 total.
Two and a half hours later, I walked out of the store, by FAR breaking my record of money spent in a single day at Target. It was one of the best (and worst) mornings I have ever had in my life.
When I told my friends, they all wondered what the heck I bought for that much money. It was hard to explain the level of shopping zen you have to reach in order to shop with abandon like that.
I walked into the store, I had my list of needs. I also had a list of wants in my brain that I thought if I saw I might grab while I was there. It was early, the store was clean, bright, and uncrowded and I had nowhere pressing to be. I had no husband to worry about rushing home to. No meal to cook. No job waiting for me. No kids screaming to buy them candy, or refusing to try on shoes. Just me, my cart, my credit card, and the muzak.
I walked into the store, I had my list of needs. I also had a list of wants in my brain that I thought if I saw I might grab while I was there. It was early, the store was clean, bright, and uncrowded and I had nowhere pressing to be. I had no husband to worry about rushing home to. No meal to cook. No job waiting for me. No kids screaming to buy them candy, or refusing to try on shoes. Just me, my cart, my credit card, and the muzak.
Due to the brilliant merchandising at Target, the women's fashions were on my immediate left. I did not have any women's fashions on my list, but my cart went weaving into the racks on its own accord. It seems that Target had come out with the new Liberty of London line. If you have seen it - you know how amazing it is.
Another phenomenon is that in Galveston, the cute new stuff is not immediately ripped off the shelves the first day it hits the store by planned neighborhood fashionistas. Most families on the island rebuild their homes, lives and businesses, and furniture takes priority over fashion.
I absolutely NEEDED (wanted) the new denim capris, shorts, and two bathing suits, and then I found the sleeveless cotton tops with the racer backs that I had to have in green AND white because they are just the thing to wear with the weather in Caracas and I had no idea how I had survived without them before.
Having made it past the gauntlet of the women's fashions - AND having rejected at least 5 to 1 the things I took into the dressing room, I rounded the corner and hit the shoe aisle.
I do consider myself above buying WOMEN's shoes at Target, but most of what my kids wear comes from there. There is a new line of shoes for little girls called Miss Trish. It is new to Target and to die for. The sandals are patent leather, and feature whimiscal little jewel animals on the front of each. My children, who did not need shoes, absolutely had to have two pairs EACH. Thank goodness the sports area was close. I had to have a new Yoga Mat (first thing I bought on my list) and, oh and did you see the new Yoga towels meant to go over your mats to absorb sweat for $24. Yes, I paid $24 for a towel.
It was my moment, I was totally wanton, knowing I had crossed over into shopping abandon I kept going. The kids needed new dry erase markers and, on the list were high storage cards for the camera, a new IPOD player for our den, etc. It all adds up - I kept telling myself.
The real damage came when I made it to the kids clothing section.
Ahem.
Damn the Liberty of London line with all the cute florals! I mean its TARGET for God's sake, not Neiman Marcus. I was saving money by shopping there right? How bad could it be?
On my list were shorts for Katherine. Well, Madeline NEEDED nothing, but I can't possibly buy something for one and not the other so...... shorts, bathing suits, dresses and skirts later I left the girls section and headed for the checkout.
Mommy guilt has always been my number one shopping drive. First is was guilt because I worked, but now it is guilt that I dragged them to a foreign country. Overall, it was cathartic but I did feel guilty buying so much stuff we did not need.
But, for the first time in my life (and likely the last), I went to a store, did not think about price, and bought absolutely everything I wanted. In a secret way, I am glad I did, because, I never want to do it again. It was kind of like when I went to Vegas when I was still poor and won "a lot" on the first 2 days of the trip and lost it all on the last day plus $20. I was done, out of my system, and all I want to do in Vegas now is shop, eat well, and see a show wearing cute clothes.
When I went to pay, the first credit card I swiped was rejected. I started sweating. I had worked so hard crafting my piles of needs and treasures - and though the magic of MasterCard fraud protection, I was about to loose it all.
I sheepishly looked at the cashier and asked her if I could try another card. The second credit card went through with no problem. Whew. It is also the one that immediately emails my husband with any purchase. I started sweating again.
Deciding to go on the offensive, I decided to admit my sins before I was asked to explain them. I walked out of the store, loaded my booty into the back, and called Caracas.
"Hello." Chris
"Hi babe!" Me
"How was your morning?" Chris
"Pretty good. I went shopping and got some of the stuff we needed at Target." Me
"Did you find the natural peanut butter I wanted?" Chris
"Target didn't have it, but I will run to the grocery store today and see if I can find it." Me
"OK." Chris
"Uh, honey?" Me
"Whats up?" Chris
"I went a little crazy at Target." Me
Silence
"I got the kids a bunch of stuff that they really did not need, but it was so cute, and I was a little shocked when I went to check out." Me
"OK, how much did you spend?" Chris
"$$$" Me
"WHAT did you buy? I did not know it was possible to spend that much money at Target" Chris
"You know, just stuff we needed, and some other stuff" Me
"OK" Chris
"I promise I will never do that again" Me
"Don't forget the peanut butter" Chris
"OK, love you." Me
"Love you too. Call me tonight. Bye" Chris
I think I got a pass on that one.
