I continue not to shop for things, and it's going pretty well. I'm staying out of the malls entirely, and at the bookstore I grab a magazine to read and head for the coffee shop. Then after the family has shopped, I put the magazine back on the rack and leave. I did buy two bunches of tulips at the grocery store last Saturday, but they don't count because I won't have to store them. I've been reading and rereading books I already own. I went through the first six Harry Potter books, and loved them all over again. Fortunately, my husband has already pre-ordered the seventh Harry Potter book from Amazon.com (It's due out in July) so I can read it when he's done with it. Next, I actually went to the Blockbuster Video to rent, rather than buy, the four Harry Potter movies. I have not rented a movie in years, but why stop with the books? The second movie wasn't available (all checked out, I guess) and I was quite content to have three to watch, but the husband went to Best Buy to buy the missing movie so I could watch them all in order. He's a sweetheart, but is it cheating to not shop, and then have someone shop for you?
I've talked at least one person at work into not shopping with me.
Could two people not shopping account for the recent stock market losses? If so, I'm sorry.
Sara Teasdale
Barter
Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up,
Holding wonder like a cup.
Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like the curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.
Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.
