Some of you may not have heard that I have re-entered the work force. To keep it brief, I will simply tell you that I love the company, I love the people, I love the work. God is very good. My relationship with my husband is better, my relationships with my children are better... only my relationship with my dog could use improvement. If he would quit jumping my fence and creating large vet bills I could re-connect with him as well. I am not holding my breath. All is well, and the blessings are plentiful.

With this new endeavor has come the need (HUGE need) for an updated warddrobe. Strangely enough, my faithful yoga pants and hoodies are NOT suitable for office wear. I would be lying if I said this was something that caused me tremendous grief. Truth be told, I have suppressed my love for shopping over the past few years only with the help of God, through lots and lots of prayer. I have missed hunting for bargains in departments other than the children's wear. At stores other than Target. (disclaimer: I STILL love me some Target... I will forever be a fan.) It is nice, however, to expand my palate to include other stores- like the plethora awaiting at the local mall. This brings me to the point of my post.
Going to the mall to shop will make you feel old. REALLY old. Ancient. Dowdy. Might- as-well-be-dead. You can ALMOST avoid this feeling if you stay in one of the major department stores. Venture out into the fluorescent lit franchises, though, and you will feel it immediately.
On this particular day I needed a cute blouse for a night out with some friends, and maybe something to put with one of my new (fabulous) suits.
A friend recommended a store called "Forever 21." anyone who has lived to my age would probably agree when I say that I would never want to be forever 21. I would never go back. Whatever. As I had predicted, many of the items in the store were not appropriate for someone of my "advanced maturity" - not necessarily immodest, just a little too trendy for a grown woman. I did find several options that I thought would be appropriate, and raced back to the fitting rooms. As I tried on my assortment I couldn't help but overhear 2 of the sales girls chatting. They were obviously VERY upset at how another associate was acting and could not believe that she would talk to them the way she did, and went on and on and on, ad nauseum about how "stupid" she was. I truly had to stifle my laugh. It was all of the reasons I would never go back to that age, all being played out in a tiny little store- in front of a bunch of customers. All the pettiness, and cattiness, and silliness that came with youth was on display. Even as I stood there feeling frustrated that birthing 3 children had made clothes fit so awfully, I was SO completely thankful to be where I am today- to have matured through all of that. I was glad I was old! It is true, you do understand your parents as you age. I remember my mom telling me that I would feel this way, and rolling my eyes. I thought she was old and crazy. She probably was, but you know what? I am too now, and she is still right! I decided however that I would simply revel in my oldness, and spare the young girls the lecture. They would have just rolled their eyes at the crazy old lady anyway.