Loathsome Shopping

I walked into Fred Meyer this afternoon with the intention to return/exchange a gift. As I approached the exchange/return line a wierd feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach... I knew it would take longer to stand in line than make my bed and I already loathed the idea of what I had to do next. I had to shop. Never the less, with my store credit in hand I headed to the aisle where I thought I would find a suitable replacement for the thoughtful yet not-quite-right gift. No dice. What I was looking for was in stock but on sale cost much more than I was willing to "spend" as maybe my gifter thought (and rightfully so). So as I walked down the aisle I noticed that said gift was refunded to me at the sale price, an entire ten dollars less than full price. ~ Feeling the sting of a return gone wrong I began to wander. Some of you out there might call it shopping. I call it much worse, but I will remain G rated. ~ After talking on my phone for a short time and looking in the "organize-it" section I headed off to the only section in a store I don't feel the pangs of anxiety sweep over me. Comfortably "wandering" the office supply section I selected some things for a venture I'm set to begin in the next couple of days. Then I went back to the fore-mentioned section only to wander with panic beginning to creep up my back... I must go home with a replacement. ~ Again, no dice. Where the heck would "they" put that thing any way? ... One more time around the section and I found a suitable replacement, all the while cussing the store manager for putting said replacement in such a ridiculous place. ~ Don't they know I hate to shop?~ And so I headed to check out and picked a line I thought would be easily navigated and scarcely populated. I was right on the lack of consumer presence, but I neglected to calculate the lack of intelligence behind the register. Trying to stifle the annoyance eminating from my face I looked around the area not caring really about what I was looking at, just trying to be kind to the poor dear who probably started at her job this morning... it would be sad to think anything else. Sadder even that I had to remind her to wring up said replacement worth $40.00 that I probably could have walked out of the store without paying for.

I hate shopping.

I went home with the needed items, happy most of all that I was able to purchase several things from the office supply section (without guilt) though no post it notes on this trip. ~ Never the less my husband is grateful to have a wife that would rather not shop and my sister is happy to give me tips when I do actually go get a pair of jeans or a shirt or something like that.

For now, I'll just stay right here.