Film at 11

Summer Clearance Sales

I went back-to-school shopping today.

Macy's was having a 65% off sale, which was enough to get even me into a department store. I had the usual trouble with clearance racks -- they had things in size 2 and in size 18, whereas I (like many, many, many American women) am the average of these two sizes. The other thing I noticed was how many different Macy's employees tried to help me. First, they would ask me if I needed help with anything. Then, they would ask if they could find a dressing room for me (this, by the way, does not happen at Ross or Marshall's, where I usually shop). Once I came out of the dressing room, they were standing right there to ask me how things had gone. If they saw me holding more than one garment, they asked me if they could hold items at the register for me. And they _always_ introduced themselves. Two or three times.

After looking at a lot of leopard print stuff, I finally found a nice suit and two reasonably priced cardigans. I went to the one saleswoman who asked if I needed help and left me alone. She winked at me on the way out. That was all the attention I needed.

To reward myself for updating my wardrobe, I used my Border's gift certificate to purchase Mary Pipher's "The Middle of Everywhere." In case you didn't follow the hyperlink, Pipher, author of "Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Soul of Adolescent Girls," writes about the burgeoning refugee population of her hometown, Lincoln, Nebraska. Obviously, this book is of professional interest, but I'm also trying to read it as a way to explain to someone what it is I do. So far, so good: it's pretty carefully written, mostly telling people's stories (including the author's) without a lot of editorial comment. On a lighter note, the cover photograph is of a group of multicultural children, patriotically holding their hands over their hearts. Innocent enough, yes? On top of the multicultural children, the publisher has added a sticker which reads, "The children on the front of the jacket are not refugees." I figure it's either a truth-in-advertising concession, or somebody's mom got pissed when she went to the library. "They called you a what? I'll show them. . "

Also, there are some birthday blessings I forgot to count. These include:

-- a picnic watching the boats at Shoreline Park while munching party leftovers
-- a "Cordon Bleu" cookbook, from which I prepared my birthday cake
-- a gift basket of different English teas, chocolates, and gourmet popcorn
-- an ink stamp with my name on it!
-- a beautiful, handmade journal
-- a velvet painting of a lady and a leopard

Maybe the last was from a summer clearance sale. I hope to continue the back-to-school shopping with meriko on Monday, so I will keep you posted.

Posted by Meredith at August 29, 2002 11:13 PM