Dec 30 2007
Hallmark
Last Saturday, Josiah was invited to attend a birthday party for a girl in his class. He would not normally consider such an invitation, but it involved a movie ticket to National Treasure II and free pizza. He and his buddies (mates) agreed they would all go together thereby making it an acceptable occasion. The difficult part, of course, was the gift buying. Abby informed Josiah that the girl liked webkins, and that Josiah could purchase one at Hallmark. Abby loves Hallmark with all its bric-a brac and girly things. Josiah was a bit apprehensive when we set out. We arrived at 0855 and the store opened at 0900. We sat in the car and began to watch our fellow Hallmark shoppers. They were all men. It was the Saturday before Christmas and these men were forced to go out and find a gift for their wives. My brother-in-law Rich was shopping on Saturday, but had to finish up a few purchases on Christmas Eve. He didn’t want to break with the tradition of buying the gift and wrapping it on Christmas Eve. This year, Dale was unable to adhere to this Christmas Eve shopping tradition as a result of his distance away and the speed of the Army postal system. I received my gift weeks in advance. I will no longer be able to grumble about him always shopping on Christmas Eve. Anyway, back to Hallmark…One guy was peering intently in the window with the hopes that he could spot something before hand, so that when the clerk opened the door, he could dash in, purchase it, and make a quick get away. Another guy, who was clearly military, was walking back and forth not directly in front of the Hallmark as if to fool anyone who happened by that he wasn’t actually waiting to go in. He threw something away in the rubbish bin down the sidewalk, he wandered around on the street in front, and constantly looked over his shoulder in case a friend happened by to accuse him of Hallmark shopping. The smart guy stayed in his car and made a quick dash for the door when the clerk finally unlocked it. Josiah and I went in to join our fellow shoppers. I began to find various things and hold them up for Josiah to see. I then noticed a glaze come over his eyes and I thought of Dale. When in a store like Hallmark, Dale will wander around in a daze. He can not relate to anything in the store and the choosing becomes a torture to him. I said to Josiah, “You won’t feel comfortable giving any of these gifts will you?” He replied, “No.” To his great relief, I let him escape. So, down the sidewalk we went to the bookstore where he purchased a day to day calendar and a journal. He brought the gifts home, wrapped them, and even made a funny card. When I dropped him off in front of the movie theater, he realized to his dismay that only the birthday girl had arrived. I left him on the curb and drove away laughing as the dazed look came back over his face.
:razz: :razz: oh my poor poor josiah….
tee hee
well…how was the movie and time with his little fellow girl friend?
oh and what did dale send you?
and ….thanks MUGS :O) i loved reading this.
That’s the difference between your mother and me, Josiah – she drives away laughing, whereas I would sit in the car with the doors locked to keep Jake safe.
Aunt Marie
Josiah and I certainly have the same shopping tendencies. I would definitely have taken a few pictures of Josiah standing in front of the theater!
Anja says, “If I were you, Josiah, I just wouldn’t have gone to the party.”