Shop-aholics Guide

How do shop-aholics wisely shop for delights in a deepening recession?

Try to make shopping an exercise walk. I don’t mean a stroll. Aim for 10,000 aerobic steps.

Also, try to shop with a tall, clean, handsome companion with a wider stride than you have. Evenings my walking companion is my beloved, and daytime, unemployed Buddy substitutes, when he’s done cleaning breakfast messes in the kitchen.

Whether at Wally’s world or Kroger’s Marketplace or at the mall, Buddy sabotages my excess purchasing urges. He watches my laser-surgery eyes heat-seek a buy of original, great price, but red sticker reduced. As my hands move the prize into the cart, he warns me, “Mom, what are you doing?”

I turn to seek other delights, only to glance back to see Buddy’s long fingers return my first item back to its shelf.

Eternal delight is what my son finds in a kitchen or store that needs order in their respective disorder. He’ll reshelve toys little hands misplaced in the clothing areas at Kohls. Buddy will grin as he gathers clothing off the floor to be re-hung, by him, on crowded clearance racks. He would return food items left behind at the checkout area, if I didn’t stop him.

Someone needs to hire this guy soon.

On the other hand, shopping with Buddy has its connective perks. Buddy always had friends greet or honk at him up north. Now he has folks down here come and chat with him as he’s decked out in his NFL Super Bowl winning team jacket. In our new church and around town we’ve found friendly ties to the Steeler Nation, the Joes and Josie citizens of diverse color and economic status, united in noisy, enthusiastic awe of a team with six victorious rings. We’re peculiar folks who continue to believe in a blue-collar way, friends who buy local and cheer loud at local sports pubs.

It’s wise to shop local. It’s wise to shop with a careful friend. Let the times temper my impulsive spending, but I won’t let the times mute my noisy awe, my enthusiasm over who I am and Who is always with me.

So I’ll pray for other shoppers, pray for the cashiers, pray over the phone while I shop to 10,000 steps. For I walk with a family of friends, a greater nation of peculiar folks who, by faith, believe in a way that’s the only way to eternal delight.

Even if the left eye is a bit fuzzy and needs repair... to be continued.