The view from down here is dizzying. Oh, did I mention that the High Horse I was on, Prepared Pepper, threw me off this weekend?
The bucking started when I realized that school was one short week away. GG still didn't have school clothes, including shoes..or any school supplies, for that matter.** Not to worry: there was a major sale going on, and to top it off, I had coupons so there was no way I could go wrong. We got up early to beat the crowds and as soon as we walked in the store, I could hear the heavenly chorus singing -- everything GG needed was right there -- on sale. We gleefully skipped from rounder to rounder and picked out two or three sets of each outfit that GG'd need (at least until the weather changes), and left with our treasures. We got home and GG tried everything on. That's when the bucking got violent. Everything -- EVERYTHING -- was one size too small. C'mon! Hadn't she just grown a full size at the beginning of summer? Doesn't matter, I reasoned, we've got time to exchange this stuff; it's not like school is starting next....DOH!
I kept calm and kept riding. This didn't have to stop me from going online and ordering school supplies. Even better, GG's school online system would let me buy everything without having to step foot in a store. It only took a couple of clicks and....they weren't accepting any more orders for the schoolyear. I had waited too late to order supplies from the comfort of my own home.
I reined in the increasingly stubborn Prepared Pepper, and went to the store with the supplies list. Item #1: a box of 12-count broad-tipped Crayola washable markers. We immediately found: Crayola markers (check), Broad-tipped (check), Washable (check), 12-count (NO check). Oh sure, there were 8-count, 10-count, 16-count, and even Stampers. What the heck are Stampers anyway? I stood there confused, and puzzled for a good 10 minutes, weighing the pros and cons of 10-count versus 16-count versus Stampers.
The rest of supplies shopping was a blur because by then, Prepared Pepper had catapulted me to where I am now; and I won't be hopping back up on that High Horse anytime soon again. In fact, I think I'll just stay right here: dizzy, dazed and confused.
**Many parents and caregivers in the community are having a tough time buying school clothes and supplies. If you want to help them out, just dial "2-1-1" from your home phone or 414-773-0211 from your cell phone to find out where donations for these items are being accepted.**
