June 22nd, 2018

Does this happen to you?  Or is it just me?

I finally find a product (whatever it is I happen to be searching for) and finally, at long last, I find one that I absolutely love.  I think it is the best thing since the invention of Chocolate chip Cookies. I use it every day.  Should someone ask me what product (whichever one we are discussing) I use, I brag about it, I recommend it even.   I am so happy at that point that, after the long treasure hunt, I feel as if I  have found The One.  Like Neo in The Matrix. Yeah, I feel that strongly about it.  So strongly in fact, that I am willing to fork over hard earned cash for it without remorse or guilt.

And then, after buying it a few times, suddenly, inexplicably, without warning, it vanishes from the shelves. What?  But, but, but, I loved it.  Why have you taken it away from me?  Insert much sobbing and inconsolable sadness here.  Mostly I"m weeping because I know that it will take For-freakin-ever to find a suitable replacement for whatever it is that is gone.  Frustrating.

And expensive.  All that trial and error.  Trying something that I don't like the scent of or the feel of or the usefulness of.  I mean a fragrance that doesn't smell good is pointless, right?  A wrinkle cream that doesn't address wrinkles doesn't make any sense!  And yet I've already spent the money for the product to try that I feel obligated to keep using it until I try another one. I hate the trial and error part.

So, I have no power in this situation at all. The retailers giveth, the retailers taketh away.

Perfume in particular is a problem.  I have some wierdo, probably alien, body chemistry wherein very few fragrances smell good on me.  Generally, once applied to my skin, it goes from a lovely scent to something more like rubbing alcohol.   Or it disappears as if I never put any scent on.  Or it morphs into something gross and overpowering.  I don't know why it is, but it's a fact.   A VERY long time ago, back in high school maybe or college, I found one called "Straw Hat".  I don't recall who made it, but it was glorious.  It smelled even better when I wore it than it did in the bottle. It was a miracle.  It was the very first fragrance that I ever wore that I loved.  Other people would walk by and breathe deeply and say, "ahhhhh" and smile.  It was like a signature.  By the time I left college, it no longer existed. Dang.

So I wore no fragrance at all for years.   And then, I don't recall the where's or how's of it all, but I found a new wonderful perfume called, "Casual".  The one you see above.  It has a base of Lily of the Valley but it's not overpowering. Just a lovely little surprise if you are close enough to me to give me a hug. I absolutely adore it.  When I got dressed every day, it was the last thing that I "put on".  It felt like an essential article of clothing almost. I was in my happyplace for sure.  But then, all too soon, it happened again.  Casual disappeared from the shelves in the store.  I was heartbroken.

I tried, I tried so hard, to find a replacement but nothing else worked. It was either too strong, completely invisible to the olfactory senses (so what would be the point of wearing it?) or again, smelled more like rubbing alcohol. I came up with nothing try after try after try and I quit looking.

But Tim did not give up.  He went online and found six bottles of my fragrance.....somewhere.....and bought all of them for me.  He is my hero! I've been hoarding them. Using it sparingly,  only on special occasions or when I need a little pick me up.  As you can see in the photo, there is only the tiniest bit left.  This is the second to the last bottle. I need to make it last the rest of my life so when I say I use it sparingly, I'm not joking!  And that kind of makes me sad because I love the fragrance. I love wearing fragrance. Even if I have not so much as one swipe of a mascara wand  or one slap of a lipstick otherwise on my face, if I'm wearing fragrance I feel special. 

Boohoo.

I'm finding the same issue with the L'Oreal Blur. (the red tube in the photo) It's The Best wrinkle fighter I've ever used EVER. Bonus points, it also has sunscreen in it.  It's not a large tube, but since the only part of the cream that works is the part that is actually touching your skin, it doesn't take very much to do the job.  I just love this stuff.  Again, I have faithfully used it twice a day for several years, I have told other people how much I love it, I have no qualms about spending the money for it and since each tube lasts me at least 4 months, it's honestly not all that much,  but suddenly, it's nearly impossible to find.  Oh no!  Here we go again.

When I do run across it, I buy it, even if I don't at that moment need to replace it. I'm nearly at the panic point. What will I do when I no longer stumble across another tube and I'm completely out??  As you can see, I cut off the bottom of the tube.  That's because I could no longer squeeze any out, but once I cut the bottom off, I can still access the bits that cling to the sides.  There is probably enough still in the tube to get me through the next few weeks and then, oh dear, then, whatever will I do?

Most things are whatever, whatever.  If I cannot find my favourite brand of butter, I buy a different brand. No big deal.  Same with bread, peanut butter, raisins, dryer sheets or dishwashing soap.  I have a favourite but I am willing to substitute with a mere shrug of the shoulders and life goes on much the same as it did before. But there are somethings that are simply irreplaceable.  Without them, life just isn't exactly the same. Perhaps it's shallow of me. Maybe I've shown myself to be, as I was once accused, 'Beyond Redemption'.  But at least it's the truth.  I will be sad for a little bit. Oh I'll get over it but still.

When the day comes that I can no longer find any of my Blur and I've used up the last of my perfume, I'll still be me. Just smelly and wrinkly.  And a little bit sad.

Despite all that, please have a wonderful weekend, each and every one of you!!