It’s that time of the year. No, I don’t mean March Madness, regular season baseball, April Fool’s Day, or Spring Break. This is big – well, at least it is in my world. And I’m afraid I lost that loving feeling.
I went shopping. I don’t mean food shopping – I’ve written about my strange interest in that regular chore. I mean clothes shopping. Really, that’s your big news? That’s probably what you are thinking. I understand and I am sorry if you feel let down, but please read on.
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the vainest one of all? While not the vainest of all, I must admit I’m a bit vain.
However, I would argue with someone who gave me such a title. I like to buy myself new clothes. I think if I had the means and a bigger closet, I might just be a clothes hound.
As a side note, I hate it when people are particularly impressed with my clothes – too weird for me to say ensemble – and they assume my wife picked out my clothes. Not that she doesn’t have great taste (she picked me, didn’t she?) but give credit where credit is due.
Ironically, I don’t particularly like shopping. I am a bit picky and am on a tight budget – challenging combination. At this point, my wife does much of the shopping for everyday clothes. However, when it comes to formal wear – ties, suits, dress shirts, etc – I handle that myself.
There are two times a year when I do my shopping – that’s why this shopping trip is a big deal. I go around the end of August and sometime in March. The reason for these semi-annual trips is because holidays follow shortly thereafter and as part of my celebration of the holiday, I like to wear at least one knew article of clothes. It makes the holiday more special.
So, yesterday, I went to the The Outlets at Bergen Town Center. I wandered around to a few stores but ultimately ended up at Century 21. I usually go there as they have a nice variety and good prices. In fact, I even have a VIP Loyalty Card dangling on my key chain. That’s commitment.
Yesterday was different. You know how when you go shopping and you buy something that you like and you are excited to wear it because it will look good or you will look good in it (remember, I did say I was vain)? Well, I did not get that feeling. Yes, I liked the items I bought, but the excitement was not there. I don’t why. In fact, I left the store anxious to get to my car while feeling sweaty and dizzy.
What’s going on with me. Was I just run down? Was I just in a rush because I wanted to get home and put my son to bed? Was it that I had work to do and my mind was not into it?
I don’t know. In six more months, I’ll be back at the stores again. We’ll see if the shopping trip once again becomes one of those ‘that time of the year’ events.