Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I question your motives!

Today I had an interesting lunch. . . to say the least. I've been invited to a bridal shower this Friday and received instruction not to bring a "nice" gift, if you catch my drift. (And if you don't catch my drift, start singing "Santa Clause is coming to town" to realize what the polar opposite of nice is. . . and THEN catch my drift). Anyway, it's for one of my best buds' fiance's so I'm more than willing to succumb to the request. She's now a good friend, so I have no hesitation about getting a gift that I would never want my mother to know that I bought - until it comes to actually buying the present. . .
I decided to visit one of Utah's shadiest locals ("lo-cal") to obtain my piece-de-resistance for the blushing bride. I say it's one of the shadiest because not only does it sell questionable merchandise, but it's in West Valley and you don't get much shadier than that. Blue Boutique on 35th south, here I come!
I strutted in with all the confidence that I could muster, not wanting to look like the naive mormon nun that I SO am, thinking that a little confidence in my step would make it less awkward. And it did - for about 3 seconds. I HAD NO IDEA!!!! That's all I really have to say about that. In addition, I wasn't even in the "Adult" section? What is this, the kids section? If so, what kind of junior high delinquents are shopping here?
Anyway, I quickly made my way to the area that I was looking for (not that I really even knew what I was looking for, but it was in the back of the store and I felt comfortable with that). BUT, in order to get to the "G" rated section (which still made me blush), I had to pass said "Adult" section with the dirty velvet curtain over the entrance. Unfortunately for the guy inside that section, the curtain was not closed all the way and we made eye contact. You know that face that a little kid gets when he knows he's been caught stealing candy? Well, that was it. That old man looked mortified. . . like I just caught him buying dirty pron! Oh wait, I did. Then I noticed he had on one of those annoying phone earpieces that make it look like you are talking to yourself and I realized that he was on his lunch break just surfing for porn in the nudy store. Here's what I wanted to say:
"Dear Old Guy,
You are old and gross and frankly, should be banned from being within 100 yards of any elementary school. You have your ear piece in, just in case you get a call. Question: What if someone actually calls? Are you going to answer it and let them know where you are at? Just in case the wife calls (who I now have total pity for) and asks you to stop and get some bread on the way home from work? NO! This is embarrassing. You are caught. Sick."
Instead I just looked at him like I was caught stealing candy and scampered off to get my G-rated items.
I know it's a double standard but it's SO different to see women in those places or even young couples because you know it's probably because they just got married or it's for a shower gift or something. Seeing old, creepy men in the "Adult" section creeps me out. He was gross. And really, I don't feel guilty because I, after all, was only in the kids section. . .

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