As a little girl, I loved shopping with my Grandmother. Nana would dress me up in a cute dress and we would walk down our hill, take a city bus, and disembark on Main Street! On the bus, we would strategize about what we needed, where we would look, and where we would have lunch? Quackenbush's Tea Room, or Meyer Brothers Cafe? Walking, talking, about everything and nothing, I held her hand half walking, half skipping down the street Passing shop windows, we would discuss merchandise, browse. The fabric store was intriguing. Trying on shoes was fun. Trying on outfits would have us dissolve in puddles of giggles when I decided to put on a "show".
Over lunch, where I always ordered ice cream to match my dress, we would seriously consider what we had seen, what we would go back and purchase, what time the bus would come to take us back home.
Lunch and shopping was one of the more intimate times that we would spend together, second only to going to Mass on Sunday or Novena on Thursday.
I graduated from college and used money that my Grandfather Scillieri (Ralph the Barber) gave me as a down payment on my first car. A 1971 Ford Pinto. White, with black vinyl roof! As soon as I pulled off of the car lot, I raced to pick up Nana! We were going to the Mall, for lunch and a little shopping. She told me that as soon as she saw the little car, she knew it was soo me! We bought some new outfits after having lunch at Bamberger's that day! Oh the stories we exchanged!
Time passed...
Tess, 10 years old, lives in a town, which is two hours driving time from me. Tess phoned, late one morning. "Meme! (may may) There is a pair of black shoes, with a little heel, sort of, with ties, that come to the ankle, but not a boot. Mommy, I don't think will buy them. But... I thought that maybe you...." Hmmm. "Tess, what do they look like?" Tess was on her lap top computer. Tess told me to "log on". Sitting on our beds, Indian style, Tess in Zanesville, I in Kettering, went shopping together. We looked for her shoes that she thought she saw. I suggested assorted web sites, she did as well. We clicked, scrolled together talking about everything and nothing as we fingers to keys danced down cyber street! After about an hour: "Meme, are you getting hungry?" Ladies and gentlemen, I am always hungry. "Actually, I am Tess." We decided to leave our computers on our beds, run down to the kitchen and bring lunch back up to have lunch together and figure out the whole shoe project. "Meme. What should we have for lunch? Maybe a sandwich and chips?" I agreed that would be easiest and best. With our phones on speaker, we rummaged in our kitchens. I heard my daughter in the background: "Tess, what are you doing?" Tess quickly responded: "Meme and I are shopping together. We are taking a break for lunch together and then we'll finish." Tiffany, my daughter: "Tess, you and Meme are so nutty. Whatever. Let me know if you need help" With that, Tess told me she shook her head and left the kitchen. We made ourselves turkey, swiss, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. Hers was on wheat, mine on Italian bread. She had flavored chips of some sort, I stuck with basic original. We both had iced tea. We hot footed it back upstairs to our rooms. As we nibbled our lunch, we did some more browsing.
Finally, we arrived at a decision. Tess has mastered "on line shopping" with my account information. Shoes ordered and paid for, confirmed! I was sent the confirmation and forwarded it to her so that we both had a complete "file" on the goods. We moved on to Tsum-tsums, matching best friend necklaces and a book.
I told her about shopping and lunch with my Grandmother before we disconnected. Tess: "Well, Meme. We did the same thing and didn't have to worry about missing the bus or carrying home a bunch of packages and bags! We had fun...just us girls...a little lunch and a little shopping!"
