Page 30 - The Holiday Issue San Diego Woman Magazine

BIT CHIN & MO ANING

HEN I WAS GROWING her leaving the house in ment store and the closer you that dreaded frostbite. The
Wup Holiday Shopping formal white gloves. Did she got to Christmas the cheaper embarrassing part was you
was a blast. Mom and I would have a Cotillion that she was the items were. I think it had could be a size two, but when
set out early in the morning attending, but had failed to something to do with the you stepped up to the vendor
to do our Christmas Shopping mention to me? She looked vendors losing feeling in their to ask if he had the item in
at the local outdoor Flea Mar- back at me and said, ”Hmm… limbs and just wanting to get your size, he would politely
kets. Yes, I said outdoor and hadn’t thought about it, but home to a warm place and say, “Oh, I’m sorry we don’t
keep in mind, we are talking what a deal only $1.00” I a cup of hot chocolate. So, carry Plus Sizes” All you could
about outdoor shopping then realized I had to share the $20 item which sold in do was walk away in embar-
in New York in December in her excitement and years the stores for $50 ended up rassment or proclaim “Oh, its
at sometimes 15 degrees later I now understand my at $5.00 the weekend before for my normal sized sister.”
Fahrenheit. My mother was unnatural love of shopping Christmas. I didn’t say these trips were
a trooper and it was some of without trauma, but to this
the best times we shared to- day I would give anything to
gether. My mom loved “deals” Holiday Shopping wake up at 7 am bundle up
this came partly from growing (that took until at least 7:45)
up poor and then as an adult and then drive 30 minutes
with two kids and a disabled to Roosevelt Racetrack or
husband, the only way mom By Judith A. Habert Aqueduct Racetrack, which
could shop was if there was a was where the outdoor flea
deal involved. Sometimes she markets were held. Of course
took this to the extreme as if you were smart you would
with one purchase she came pack a thermos of coffee or
home with, after uncharac- hot chocolate to help survive
teristically shopping alone the frost, but in that weather
after work, probably because it only stayed hot for about
she was buying her family three minutes and then you
gifts and wanted them to be would see a layer of ice form
a surprise. In any event she on the top of your cup.
was gushing about a deal she
had gotten. When she pulled So what is Christmas
out the long white gloves shopping like for me today….
that went from fingertip to Boring for the most part and
shoulder. I looked at her a bit I must admit, except for Black
inquisitively, but with a smile Friday, because yes I am still
and buoyantly bright eyes a masochist. I now do most
she uttered “These were on and getting great deals. Yes, I I must admit you could of my shopping online in the
sale for only $1.00 at Gertz (a can attribute it to my mom. I not be a novice or come comfort of my own home,
long deceased department only wish she was still around from someplace warm like but between you and I, often
store in NY) They are usually so we could laugh about such San Diego and survive this I have to turn the air condi-
$10.” Now mind you in those things now. shopping experience. We tioning on high even if it is
days $10 was a lot for a pair But I digress, getting back had to start dressing about only 55 degrees outside since
of long white dress gloves, to our Christmas shopping an hour before we left. There I want to recreate the joy I felt
but when they were reduced experiences. It was freak- were layers of clothes to put freezing my butt off with my
to $1.00 who could avoid ishly cold and at times there on. Bra and underwear were mom on those sacred Christ-
the deal? Not my mom. I would be ice forming on our just the foundations, then mas shopping expeditions. I
then had to sheepishly ask eyebrows, but a true bargain came thermal underwear, a even have to have my gloves
her “Mom, when are you hunting shopper will not let thin sweater, a heavy hooded on, which I must admit makes
ever going to where white that little fact deter them. sweat shirt, a puffy winter it a bit tough to navigate the
gloves?” I had been around After all, everything was coat, a scarf, a hat and gloves, touch screen on my laptop,
for about 16 years at this incredibly cheaper than the definitely gloves. The ex- but hey Mom, this one is for
point and not once did I catch same items in the depart- tremities were the first to get you!

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