So I haven't really ventured into the realm of shopping since I have been home. I finally let go of my fears and stepped into shopping malls around the country. I was in search of many things that have populated a list that lives in my handbag. Just never bothered as I don't handle disappointment well. So I would rather not try to get things than not get things. Apart from my list, I am a shopper of both the need, want and window varieties. So regardless of whether I need something or whether I have the funds to be spontaneous, I appreciate and even crave at times, a few hours of window shopping. Item gaping. Thing gazing. Whatever, you want to call it, I can do it for hours. So I got around to it. Had a little pep talk with myself prior to each adventure. "Now Mich yuh know it eh go be like London right? That this might be de ting dat make yuh say yuh want to go back. Remember focus on the positive!"
I decided to ease into it. I started with food shops. Those high-end type stores that import all their items from the US. I saw a lot of brands that I haven't seen in years, as in London, there isn't mass availability of American brands as there is here or other Caribbean islands. The cereals. Chocolate. Crackers (fancy Crix nah!.) Then like a ray of hope, sitting on the shelf right in front of me was my latest prize for my sacrifice. My sacrifice of leaving a supposed better life experience to return my islands in the sun. Islands that some say are doomed and burdened by a population with a bad attitude. My favourite coffee brand while I was in London-Starbucks. Ground coffee in the bag as well as expresso in a can and further frappuccino options, including vanilla. I was in my glee. The price didn't matter. This was priceless, right MasterCard?
Soon my shopping adventures began to expand to clothing items both for me and the boy. Starting with shoe shops as they are quite a few retailers who focus on solely footwear. Ha! See what I did there? Dais ah name for ah shoe store right dey! Solely Footwear. Take it nah. Just hail meh out when yuh open. I soon got braver and checked out some clothing stores and again the wide availability of tops and pants made out of lycra and spandex amazed me. Allyuh not sweating and smelling stinky in dat? Geed. Not me. Not in this heat. What happen to good ole cotton? Allyuh want de clothes to hug allyuh? I don't get the rationale again. Fur lined knee high boots and tops and dresses made out of spandex/lycra/cotton/polyester mix? With this heat? Allyuh mad. So yuh feel yuh looking funky? Don't tell me, like how they look on TV? Steups. So you would rather look good (or think you look good) than smell good? Allyuh really back to front yes. Fellas, next week ah dealing wit allyuh.
