This Reminds Me

Archive for June 18th, 2009

My 12-year-old niece Miriam is in for a visit, and as is my custom, I promised to take her shopping for a combination birthday/Christmas gift from Sarah, Judy and me.  I expected to go online to America Girl, like last year.  Or possibly zip over to Target, like the year before.  Nope.  She wanted Build-a-Bear.  And that meant a trip to the mall (shudder.)

The girls, of course, loved it.  Rachel and Lois immediately headed for the mid-summer sale signs, leaving Miriam, Hannah, Julia and I to wander Build-a-Bear.

Miriam left her original rabbit “Hoppy” at home, but new bunny “Jumpy” will be joining him next month, along with bear “Sherbet.”

And how was I going to escape without getting Hannah “Rainbow” and Julia “Tony Parker?”  Plus some outfits.  The family behind us really wished they’d been a minute quicker.

Julia is behind me right now, making Tony Parker’s home more colorful.  Must say – their packaging and online games are pretty cool.

Rachel – who turned 18 on Saturday – found two gray hairs today and promptly plucked them, bemoaning this new development endlessly.

But hey, Rachel – you have nothing on me.

I raced to a parking garage.  Inhaled the samples of crazed perfume barkers.  Dodged ill-placed kiosks and squirming toddlers.  Outpaced strollers.  Gritted my teeth at  the cacophony of dueling Muzak systems.    Wolfed a cardboard dinner in the food court.   Trotted back out to the car with carefully-balanced boxes and bags.

Baby – you found two gray hairs.  I earned at least four tonight.   I was malled!