Beating the Blues

Everyone knows the blues and when they hit. (Okay,not everyone, most women). Some people say that it is a natural occurrence with women at some point in their monthly cycle (I will not argue that). I know that I get it every once in a while and since it does not feel like every month, maybe that theory does not apply to me ...It does not mean it is wrong. During the blues I kind of feel sorry for myself but it is usually triggered off by something. Sometimes I am able to identify the 'culprit' sometimes I am not and I do not even think of what triggered it, I just concentrate on getting past the blues.

I was in that mood recently so off to the shops I went...for a "black shirt with a character". I really do not shop often but then the blues come (thank God it is not often), the shops have an amazing allure and buying has a way beating the blues. I stopped at the first shop that is likely to give me what I want (I am not sure about the price) so true to my expectation, they had something. I tried to justify it...it is not too plain, the sleeve is really beautiful...I will take it. So they packed it up for me and I started humming and singing down the stairs on my way back to my car. Now you must agree, I am really a disciplined shopper! I went to one store only in a mall (okay not a mall, a shopping complex more like it)and I was out afterwards. I got home, threw the stuff away at one corner but I am actually happy that I bought something and the blues got temporarily fixed.

Two days later, I picked up the shopping bag from where I dumped it (feeling good again) and I showed my sister who liked it (she likes every new piece of apparel or accessory), then I found out it was the wrong size. They gave me a size 1 instead of size 2(Before you start imagining me as a tiny winy being, these sizing is from another planet where size 1 is equal to US size 6 and British size 10). Come to think of it the designer of this brand must have had a brain wave and thought that since women love to describe themselves in the numerals under 10, he/she will design the clothes not to exceed size 6. Size 6 is the highest in this brand. So I decided that I will return the shirt for the right size.

Off again to this one shop but this time I took the 'wrong' road/route to the shop because I stopped briefly at another shop 'just to see'. When I got there I asked if they had any "Black shirt with a character". The store owner was there (another mistake) and she said "Oh a lot". That should have been an alarm bell in my ears but I smiled instead and like President Bush I mistakenly said "Bring them on!" I rejected most of them until one with big sash and very trendy style was shown to me and when I tried it on, I knew I must have it because it was meant for me - know one of those meant for me type fittings?. So they packed it up for me and again I was singing and humming all the way to the car. I realized that it was too late at this time to get to the other shop to return the other one because I had to go pick up my son from school and since it was the first day of school this session, I was not ready to start it off with a late pick up. I made a mental note to call the shop and explain that my driver will return the shirt.

I did not get to call the shop eventually and so off to the shop again the next day to return this shirt in the wrong size. When I got there, I was told that size 2 may not be available (and I rejoiced in my heart since I had bought one with a very strong character already)but they checked and lo and behold there was size 2. I quickly tried it on and then said to myself, "actually this one is more like a work shirt and the other one is a 'free lancer'so I will buy it". I had them pack it up for me. I wrote the check and left but this time, I was not singing and humming all the way to the car, I was looking at the gapping hole in my account made possible by the quest for a black shirt with a character which came as a result of the blues!!! Next time, I have sworn (no I did not literarily swear ..just a figure of speech)when the blues come, I will put a music tape and just sing along and jump and down until it goes away even if I have to it for hours or days. I am never going to go to any shop not even the bookshop which I pounce on sometimes when the blues come too!!