Regular People on a Regular Saturday Doing Completely Normal Things

I joked with my daughter and her friend today that we were being “real Americans.”

Of course, we are real Americans every day.  But the joke poked fun at the very typical activities that we chose for our snowy Saturday–typical for many that is, but not so much for us.

A nice overnight snowfall left the landscape blanketed in white this morning.  While weekday snowfall can be quite the upset to routine (for us boring grownups, that is–the kids love it!), snow on a day-off is almost a treat.  I don’t normally have the opportunity to spend a Saturday with my family, but I was lucky enough to have a friend covering the shop today.  Hubby and I took the boy to sled at the nearby elementary school, where many other local families were congregated with sleds (the kids) and coffees (parents, naturally) in hand.  I even took a few chilly trips down the hill, racing my son (a cheaterpants, btw) while my husband snapped incriminating photos and whooped catcalls into the crisp air.  I was going to stay at home to clean up a bit (aka sit in my slippers and sip my coffee in a quiet house), but I’m really glad I rushed out the door at the last minute.  It has been over 20 years (TWENTY!) since I’ve been on a sled!  It was a smashing good time.

While we were gone, my junior-high-aged daughter and her sleepover buddy opted to skip the toboggans and, instead, enjoyed their freedom and a very grownup task.  I left them with a small list of items we needed from the Farmer’s Market, and, with their trusty bags in hand, they walked to the market (to market, to market!) all by themselves.  Good news:  the veggies and the girls all arrived back home again safe and sound.  They were waiting at the door upon our return, mouths grinning proudly and stuffed with donuts (their reward for a job well done).

Since they missed out on the sledding adventure, I offered to take the preteen duo out on their own for some “girl time.”

Here’s where the story goes from Norman Rockwell to Neiman Marcus.

Why does “girl time” so often involve spending money at places you shouldn’t on things you feel you ought to just whisper about when you get home?

Well, the first of our troubles began with a trip to Nature’s Garden, a local natural foods’ store and big-time retailer of today’s Achilles heel: Uggs.  Ugh.  I have said some pretty judge-y things about those boots.  I snarkily refer to them at home as “inside-out sheep shoes” (remember, my daughter’s a vegetarian!), and gasp at the high price tag of “just another made-in-China” shoe.

Yeah…guess what I’m wearing tonight?…  The thing is, I have REALLY COLD FEET all the time–it’s part of an actual vascular disease I have (no details as they would be both boring and unnecessary).  And, in case you haven’t heard, Uggs are really warm boots.  Plus, I’ve taken to wearing my slippers to work (not an attractive habit), and Uggs seem like the perfect compromise: super comfy AND they have actual soles!  The high price tag?  I used my Christmas money, so it seems like it shouldn’t count.  Plus, MY feet aren’t growing anymore.  The guilty China business?  Well, at least I was supporting a small, local business.

We can come up with a justification for just about anything.  The thing is, brandwashing and subliminal advertising and the whole of pop-culture have done all of the work for us!  All we have to do is relax into it, and “act normal.”

Next stop: the mall.  The. Mall.

????

I gave the girls an hour, and I got to pick the shops.  Having never been there, we started out at Five Below, as if we were jumping in the deep end on the first swim of summer.  Narrowly escaping the siren’s call in a sea of cheap neon fingerpolish and rainbow legwarmers, we surfaced in the main walk of the Berkshire Mall.  We tried on overpriced sweatshirts and laughed/cried over how many of the “indie” trends we pioneered at the shop have spread out into mass retail venues.  Most of what we picked up felt cheap and silly and common.  We were reminded of what makes small businesses awesome and independent  designers rock.  We chose smoothies over pizza.  We did the mall, but we did it “Hello Bluebird” style.

On our way back to the car is when I made the “real Americans” comment.  It felt good to poke a little fun at ourselves, both for our indulgences and our informed abstinence.  It wasn’t meant to be make us feel superior to the “regular” folk who get to just go to the mall, shop at Wal-Mart or the plain-old grocery store.  It was a moment when we actually felt completely connected to every average consumer, all grins and guilty pleasures, three giggling girls engaged in the great all-American pastime, for better or worse.

Good Thing 21/365 : Enjoyed a regular old Saturday off with the family.

Good for: Feeling normal.  And my feet!  And plenty of food for thought.