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It was like being in a candy store. I wanted everything and just when I thought I had made my final decision, I saw something else that caught my eye. Jim sneezed a few times and grumbled under his breath about the dust but I just gave him the look and he promised to behave. At least outwardly... and that's all that mattered for now. I had plans to more than make up for it when we got home.

I finally settled on a lamp for the bedroom, though I saw at least a dozen other things I wanted. I didn't mention them cause I still had to spring dinner at my mom's on him and didn't want to press my luck. Hence the plans to more than make up for it when we got home.

Jim paid and said he was taking the treasure out to the car while I tried to extricate myself from a conversation with a lovely older woman named Ida. Let's face it, I'm an old people magnet. Other women got construction workers and pizza boys. I got old people. I couldn't help wondering who would single me out when I was old... Undertakers?

Anyhow, Ida had appeared seemingly out of nowhere while I was browsing and hadn't left my side the entire time. Before I knew it, I was sitting at a small vinyl cloth covered table having a cup of tea while Ida told me all the tales of her marriage and her husband Hal. And I do mean all.

They had opened this shop after the kids (Geraldine the nun, Marvin-- 'he's a good boy and still lives at home' also the youngest even at 52, and Anthony-- 'who had gotten into a little trouble but it wasn't his fault'-- the Gynecologist) were basically self-sufficient and both she and Hal had retired. I wondered how long ago that was. She looked older than Dirt and I'd lay odds that Hal even knew Dirt's parents.

Of course the inevitable question came up as to whether Jim and I had any children of our own after mumble mumble years of marriage. "No, we didn't... But it certainly isn't for lack of trying," I confessed almost eagerly.

Even a discussion about how we should be patient and try to adopt was better than more information about Marvin and his sleep-over pal Ricky and how cute it was the way they stayed up all night giggling and talking. I wanted to scream he's GAY for Pete's sake! GAY!

As Ida droned on, I began to think that the gods were punishing me for taking my husband away from his football game after he worked hard all week sitting behind his desk shuffling papers. "Please," I prayed silently to whomever would listen. "I promise to more than make up for it when we get home if you'll just figure out a way to get me out of here."