August 31st, 2018

I did something spontaneous!  Monday I did something, unplanned, that I've only done one other time in my entire life (at least that I can think of).

You have to understand the importance of me saying that I did something spontaneous.  I like to say that I'm perfectly capable of being spontaneous as long as it's well planned out.  Y'see?  Kind of out of character for me.  But occasionally I surprise myself.

I needed to do a quick grocery store run on Monday afternoon.  My local grocery store is in a good sized plaza filled with all sorts of other lovely business:  restaurants, nail salons, my hair dresser, a jewelery store, a barber shop, a dollar store and a Beall's Outlet among other things.  To my complete surprise, the parking lot was packed!  I expected that to be the case later in the week due to the upcoming holiday weekend but on a Monday? Oh well.

It was so crowded in fact, that I had to go way down to nearly the end of the plaza to find an open spot. No problem. I am perfectly capable of walking from my car to Publix and frankly could use the exercise.   Now it so happens that way down on that end of the plaza is Beall's Outlet Store. One of my favourite places to buy clothes.  I don't really need any clothes so it never consciously occurred to me to go in there which is why I was so surprised to find myself walking in the door instead of continuing down the sidewalk to the grocery store.

There were clearance sale signs all over the place. Think about it. An outlet store plus a clearance sale.  Sam Nirvana. "Okay", I told myself sternly, "You can look, but there will be  no buying today. Just a quick peekie and out the door".  I totally ignored myself and strolled through the clearance racks.  The first thing that caught my eye was a pair of print shorts in teal green and white.  I looked at the price tag.  $6.99.  And then, without another thought, I walked them to the register, paid and continued back out the door.

Did you see that?  I bought an article of clothing without even trying it on!!!!!  That is not just spontaneous, it's downright shocking.  As I said at the very beginning, in my entire life, I have only done that one other time.

Normally if I am clothes shopping there is a lot more involved.  First of all I have to peruse all of the options. And I mean all of them.  Eventually, if the planets are all in the proper alignment, I select a few things in what I at least assume is my size and away to the dressing rooms.  I try and discard quickly unless I think I might possibly really love the item.  If I am going to spend money, it's going to be on something I truly adore and will wear it often.

Assuming that this is an occasion where there is at least one thing that I like, I will then try it with multiple different tops. I will walk around the dressing room area.  I will sit, squat, stand, bend over.  I will look at the article of clothing in question from every angle possible, front, side, back very critically.  I think about what else I have already at home to wear with it.  I read the care tag. I check seams and closures, be they button or zipper.  If the thing I'm considering passes all of those tests I will next walk it around the store thinking about it.  I might consider other things against it while I'm out there.  Or I might just have it in my hand while also admiring a cute pair of shoes or a shirt I think Tim will like.  Once I have exhausted all possible opportunities to procrastinate making this decision, then and only then, I will take it to the register and purchase it. Or put it back on the rack depending on my mood that day.

This time I did not do even one of those steps. Not. A. Single. One.  I just paid for it and left. Did my grocery shopping and went home.  Cut off the tags and put it in the laundry pile.  Mercy!

I finally wore them for the first time yesterday. Oh my goodness. So comfortable. Kind of cute too. A little shorter than the shorts I usually wear but not horribly so (at least I don't think so) and I do not for one minute regret buying them.  Hurrah!

The only other time I can recall buying without at least trying, was about ten years ago.  It was a lightweight orange sweater, which I still own and still wear.  It too was a great non-decision.

So yes, I surprised myself.  I was spontaneous.  And it worked out great!  But don't expect this on a regular basis.  The very next day I reverted back to my normal non-spontaneous self.  But I have to say that I like to see that part of me shine every once in awhile.  Spontaneously, of course!