Yesterday I had to go shopping. I say had to because I didn’t really want to go but I needed something for my trip and I couldn’t put it off any longer. It was raining and I didn’t bother to dress up. Phoenix is a very casual place and no one “dresses up” to go shopping any more. I didn’t look bad but I didn’t look great, either.

I entered the store and a clerk was in my face almost before the door closed behind me. “May I help you?” “I would just like to look a minute,” I responded. “I need some slacks and I’d prefer knits for comfort on the plane.”

“We have slacks on the sale rack in the back,” she announced loudly. I responded that I’d like to look around first and, if I didn’t find anything, I’d consider the sale rack. As I browsed through the store, she followed me announcing the glories of the sale rack. I looked at a few other ladies in the store – we all looked about the same – but they were allowed to look at the merchandise in a leisurely manner. [Read more...]