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Living the Life of Holly
By Holly Winter
© 2004
The Obsession of Possession

“What do you think?” The beautiful woman asked me as I walked into the store.

The saleswoman nodded an emphatic ‘yes’ from behind her.

I ignored Sales-woman and studied the coat she was wearing. I could feel the disgust bubbling up in my stomach. “I don’t like it.”

“Why not?” She asked.

“Well.” I regarded the long pink leather coat carefully. “It makes you look sickly.”

The model was taken back and sang out an insulted, “Excuse me?”

“The length is odd.” I said, focusing on her. “And I don't like that Pepto Bismal color. There’s gotta be something better.”

Sales-woman threw me a frozen smile and turned to her customer. “Well. I think it looks great.”

The pink coat was thrown over a bench and Model was re-cloaked in a long brown, paneled leather coat. She played with the collar and slid her hands in and out of the pockets before she turned to me with raised eyebrows.

Um. When did I become a fashion advisor? I gave a little laugh. “That’s classy. The brown one gets my vote.”

Sales-woman trumped-up her fake enthusiasm and cut in. “It’s fabulous. You look like a million dollars. You’ll be turning every head, for sure.”

Model smiled and spun around. “It feels good.”

Sales-woman gasped in anticipation of the sale. “Believe me. This is a one-of-a-kind designer brand. You’ll be the ONLY one walking in style THIS winter.”

The hair on the back of my neck went up. Uh. One-of-a-kind designer? The ONLY one? I peered into Sales-woman’s empty smile. “How much is it?”

She picked up the price tag and squinted into it. Yeah. Like she didn’t already know. “It’s a great price for a one-of-a-kind. It’s discounted at fifteen thousand.”

I gulped quietly and gave a little laugh. I should’ve known better. I was wandering around Beaver Creek, Colorado. What was I thinking? Thrift store values? This town is one of the most expensive places to shop in the whole country. I’d come looking for adventure, not to make a purchase. I knew better.

Model looked at me. “What do YOU think?”

I shrugged. Wasn’t this kind of sad? I couldn’t imagine making a fifteen thousand dollar purchase without the input of a good friend, family member or, at least a secretary. Was I her stand-in friend? “Doesn’t your husband want to be with you when you make a large purchase?”

She sighed. “No. He’s taking a nap. He said I shouldn’t return to our condo without a winter coat. He’s tired of me being cold. We’re going to be here for three more days before we return to Texas.”

“Well.” I looked the coat over. “I don’t like the way the belt lays. Look at it. It’s all bunched up in the back.”

Sales-woman started hyperventilating. She turned to Model and talked fast. “Oh. You can have it tailored anywhere. Surely you know a good tailor, right honey? You’d need to have this coat adjusted to fit you just right, anyway.”

Needy-Model looked back to me. “You like it? Besides the belt?”

I turned up my hands. “Do YOU like it?”

She sighed. “I guess. But would you buy it for yourself?”

Um. No. Let’s not get philosophical here. Would I ever spend fifteen smackers on a coat? I couldn’t imagine. I mean. It didn’t even come with free gloves. “Yeah. I think you should buy it.” I smiled.

“Maybe I’ll get both.” She said, turning to regard the pink coat again.

Sales-woman started clapping unconsciously. “Capital idea. Why not take both? They’re exquisite, both of them.”

I politely untangled myself from the drama I’d walked into. I had better things to do than pity a beautiful, rich, friendless woman.

I left the store and continued my quest for adventure. Perhaps something more palatable? I walked into an expensive gift shop. I was chatting with the girl on staff when a woman with a sparkly (diamond?) belt walked in and waved her arm around like a magic wand.

“I’ll take that lamp.”

“Of course.” Staff said.

“And these three pillows. Start a stack for me at the counter.” She demanded, with another wave of her arms.

“Yes. I’d be happy to.”

Sparkly-belt’s friends entered the store. “I’ve started without you.” She called, over her shoulder. She pointed to a blanket holder, a wine rack, and a shelf of picture frames. “I’ll take these.” Everyone grabbed something to add to her stack.

I was enthralled, never seeing anyone spend money this fast. She didn’t refer to price tags, preferring to go by whim. Um. This place was expensive. One decorative pillow cost about four hundred dollars.

She snapped her fingers toward a painting on the wall. Staff reached for it. She pointed towards an old fashioned chair, a magazine holder and a fashionable fish tank. “Faster. I have a luncheon in a few minutes. You’re not going fast enough.”

“Of course.” Staff said with a patient smile. She must be getting a commission.

Sparkly-belt continued circling the store, grunting her way around like a spoiled child on the verge of a breakdown. “And that. Yes. That’s MINE too.”

At first I thought she was entertaining. What would she buy? How many ways could she command those around her? Would she snap? But. The frenzied whirlwind got annoying, fast.

I caught some rolling eyes as one friend turned to the other. Guess they were tiring too?

Sparkly-belt stormed to the back of the store. “And how about this. What IS this?”

Staff regarded the odd shaped chair carefully. “It’s a high class stool.”

“Oh. Of course. I’ll take it. Do you have more than one?”

“Yes. There’s another just next to it, see?”

“I’ll take all you have.”

The friends rolled their eyes again. They checked the time, and burst into quiet laughter.

I couldn’t help but wonder, why were they putting up with her? A free lunch? Can’t she see them poking fun of her? Doesn’t she realize her ‘friends’ don’t like her?

“And this little table. And this blanket. Please. Faster. I must get to that luncheon.”

“Of course.” Staff said, compassionately.

“The luncheon can wait.” Friend One said. “It wouldn’t start without you, and you know it.”

“Really.” Friend Two agreed. “Continue shopping. “There’s no immediate rush.”

When she was satisfied that she had everything worthy of her ownership, she ordered Staff to add them up, while she ran to buy a few bits from the shop next door.

“Sorry about that.” Friend One said, when she was gone. “She forgets her manners when she’s shopping.”

“No problem.” Staff said.

Friend Two laughed. “Have you EVER seen any evidence of manners, EVER?”

“No.” One agreed, laughing.

“How much does it come to?” Two asked.

“Ten thousand, before shipping and handling. I don’t have to charge tax since it’s going out of state.”

One shook his head. “She spent twice that across the street.”

Staff looked up at me after they were gone. “Rampage shopping. We get it all the time.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding. Ten thousand in five minutes?”

Ok. I was done. Done rubbing elbows with people who’s idea of a perfect afternoon was spent obsessing about owning more THINGS. When did possession become an obsession? I wanted to shake those women and tell them that things don’t matter; people matter.

Heck with all of their ‘stuff’. Were they as obsessed about loving the people in their lives? Because without people to love you are ALONE. Hello?

I caught the bus back to the Pajama House where four-year-old Adam met me at the door.

“Holly, you’re not wearing your pajamas?”

“Not because I don’t want to. I’m going to change right now.” I laughed.

“I didn’t know you had real clothes.” He said, studying my sweater.

“I had to wear them into town.”

“Don’t you think it’s funner to stay here where you can wear your favorite pj’s?”

“Yes!” I said, ruffling his hair.

I changed quickly and joined my friends who were cuddling with their children and watching the Disney movie, “Finding Nemo.”

Cool-guy made a place for me next to him. “Did adventure find you?”

“Nobody buys gum here, do they?”

Kim turned away from the movie. “What were they buying?”

“I watched one woman spend fifteen thousand on a coat, and another spend ten thousand on pillows and picture frames.”

“Where’d you go shopping?” Karl laughed, handing me a margarita.

“Wherever my feet took me.”

“See.” Cool-guy said. “That’s your problem. You should follow your NOSE.” He handed me the bowl of his spicy, homemade guacamole and chips, kissed my cheek and returned his attention to the movie.

I munched on a chip and relaxed into an un-designer pillow, glad to be with the people I loved.

Adam crawled over to me. “I don’t know why you left, Holly.”

I sighed. “Me neither.”

“Cause.” He said, snuggling into my lap, “all the fun adventures like funny movies and matchbox car racing and reading books and the adult Gatorade you’re drinking happen right here at our house.”

Wanna try another column? How about #128 Going Chinese which is about a young girl trying Chinese food for the first time.

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Copyright © 2004 by Holly Winter
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