Shopping

So I took my 4 year old and the baby to the mall today. We planned on just shopping around and playing in the play area for a bit then going home.

I am always just amazed at the sheer number of stores in the mall, let alone the millions of items for sale!

I'm a pretty simple person. I don't spend a ton of money on "stuff", unless it's for scrapbooking. Or yarn. Or sometimes books. But really. Does anyone need the same exact shoes offered in 15 different colors? Or "boots" that don't even cover your toes? Obviously, I was shopping for shoes. And the styles! Metallic, canvas, leather and plastic. And the ubiquitous "man-made materials", whatever those might entail. I just wanted black or brown leather loafer type shoes.

I spent a good half hour just trying to find plain black loafers that didn't have buckles, or tassels, or fringe (penny loafers, anyone?) or that were made of something thicker than the fabric of my shirt. And this after spending the last several weeks scouring the other "department" stores (by this I mean Walmart and Target, not Dillard's or Younkers!) and not finding my simple shoes.

I finally found some, at my shoe store of choice, Payless. Not leather, but not covered in spangles, either.

I miss simpler times where if you wanted to pick a color, it was basically white, black or brown. Maybe red for the flashy ones. I do like red, though. Zebra stripes? Not so much.

And shoe shopping with a four year old and a sleepy 14 month old was perilous. I half expected to come home to see little mister with two different shoes on, and neither of them ours. But I managed to buy two pairs of shoes for under $25 (love that BOGO sale!) and come home with all the correct pairs.

Now I get to go weed out the shoe rack.

Anyway, I got this in an email today, and it seems to fit in to my feelings about shopping these last few weeks before Christmas.

> Subject: Fw: Twas the month before Christmas
>
>
> Twas the month before Christmas,
> When all through our land,
> Not a Christian was praying
> Nor taking a stand.
>
> See the PC Police had taken away,
> The reason for Christmas, in a quiet, sly way.
> The children were told by their schools not to sing,
> About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
>
> "It might hurt people's feelings," the teachers would say
> "December 25th is just a school 'Holiday'."
> Yet the shoppers were ready with checks, credit, cash,
> Ready to make their gift buying dash!
>
> CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, a Wii.
> Something was changing, what could it be?
> Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
> In hopes to sell books by Franken and Fonda..
>
> The Targets were hanging their trees upside down,
> At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.*
> At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears,
> You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
> Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty,
> Are words that were used to intimidate me.
> Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf, Blitzen.
> On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
>
> At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter,
> To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
> And we spoke not a word as they removed our faith,
> Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
>
> The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
> The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
> So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' beside your 'Dream Tree',
> Think of times past and listen to me.
> Choose your words carefully,
> Choose what you say.
> Wish a MERRY CHRISTMAS to all,
> Not "Happy Holiday"!
> As Christians we must join together and say,
> Enough! Stop! Give us back our Holiday!!
> It's time that you stop and listen to reason,
> For Christ is the basis for the Christ-mas Season!