If you read Once a Little Girl, you know I L-O-V-E, love to camp and I love adventure. Today, I had some adventure in a tent. A brand new experience for me: A tent sale. I H-A-T-E, hate shopping. If I could, I’d only shop with a catalog, the internet, and a glass of wine. My daughter, Duckie, loves to shop. And I love Duckie. So today off , after breakfast, we head to the Wilton Tent Sale. Great finds can be had there for the patient and persevering. I’m one of those.
Did I mention Duckie loves to talk? She processes everything out-loud. The tent sale is a 60+ minutes away, so Duckie has lots of time to tell me everything that’s on her mind. I get a chance to practice my listening skills. Duckie works at the local grocery store as a courtesy clerk. She’s one of those people; she bag groceries and loads them in customers’ cars. Duckie has the low-down on everyone. She loves people.
Wow! So many people stuffed in one tent: People going up and down the aisles in willy-nilly. We are like Olympiads in our determination. Duckie looks on one side of the aisle and I look on the other.
My focus weakens with so many cake decorating ideas. Duckie finds some mini-loaf pans so she (me) can make serving size meatloaf for her and her hubster. Yes, Duckie is married to a courtesy clerk that she met at Special Olympics.
Duckie tires of all the pans, spatulas, tools, and gadgets. She heads to the craft section. I never knew Wilton made so many things. Everything is 50-75% off the list price. I can feel my pupils dilate as I pick up a heart-shaped cake mold. This will be great for pound cake with fresh strawberries; perfect for a certain grand-daughter’s summer birthday. I hesitate. The grand-kids have wild and crazy requests for cakes: Luke Skywalker with a volcano and lava pit, giant Legos, a wedding cake, Tinkerbell, Thomas the train, a spider, a dinosaur, an armadillo,
Bible Man….the list goes on. 
I put the heart-shape mold into my cart. My first impulse buy.
I load up on all the essentials then add one more impulse buy: A border Punch Set and some Sugar Sheets. This may stretch my artistic sensibilities. The main thing I like about frosting, is it’s so forgiving. Make a mistake? Just smooth over and start again. Yes. I can conquer the sugar sheet.
Oh my. We’ve been here two hours already. Maybe I do like to shop.
I’m ready to check out. The line is long and winding, and moving. Hurrah! Everyone is so cheerful. I like this.
Where is Duckie? She left her purse and cell-phone with me; she’s 4’10”. I have next to no hope of spotting her in the crowd. How will I ever find her? Maybe she’ll see me winding through the check out line. Maybe she’s waiting at the car.
No sign of Duckie. Back into the tent I dive.
There she is. Mulling over the scrap-booking stickers. She’s loves art and she loves people. Scrap-booking is a great hobby for her. Every scrap-book gives her a chance to re-live her experience.
Time for lunch at Sweet Tomato. I love all those fresh salad fixing. Yum-mee. If you read Once a Little Girl, you already know I love vegetables, and here’s something else I love: ice cream. Besides a wonderful salad bar, Sweet Tomato has great chocolate brownies and ice cream. Yum-mee times two.
Duckie talks to me all the way home: what she saw and did, all the plans she has, all the people she knows. My listening muscles are ka-put. My mind needs a chance to wander.
We both got some great bargains. I will go back next year.
You know what? I had fun. Okay, I didn’t L-O-V-E, love it. Still, I had a ton of fun.
And I need a nap.
Related articles
