A Shopping Day

Today was a most excellent day. I had minor pain and enough energy to take my granddaughter-by -choice shopping and to lunch. 

I have two granddaughters. Sarah is my granddaughter by birth. Madilyn is my granddaughter by choice. She is Sarah's half sister but we don't do halfs in my family. Madi once ask if I really was her Mawmaw and I ask her if she wanted me to be. She said yes. I said, "Then I'm your Mawmaw and always will be." 

That's just how I roll. 

Shopping is not my thing. However, for these two girls, I'll do a lot of things that aren't my thing. Shopping is something they both enjoy when they have the funds ... or I do. So I called up their mom and told her I wanted to take Madi out. Madi was ready by noon. 

Our plan was to hit two thrift stores in Washington Square Mall. We both like thrift stores and Madi had $20 to spend. At the first store, she found two items she liked. I found something for their apartment. During our meandering, Madi revealed she was up all night. I had thought she looked tired. She hadn't known I was taking her out. I ask if she was all right, and she assured me she was. However, she was hungry, so we went to lunch. I had to promise we'd come back to the new Goodwill store after lunch. I wasn't sure because she was clearly exhausted.

As we rode along Green River Rd. we just chatted. Suddenly, Madi said, "Mawmaw, what is Hooters?"

I laughed. "Well, it's a restaurant."

"What kind?"

A considered pause followed. Y'all know by now that I just tell the truth. I said, "It's a restaurant where the waitresses wear shorts up to their crack and very tight t-shirts that expose their boobs to everyone."

After a brief pause, Madi said, "But why?"

"Because they're required to dress that way to work there."

"Who goes there?"

I could be mistaken here, but don't think so. I said, "Mostly men but some women go there, too. They say the food is good."

Madi made several false starts at a response. I could see her in the mirror as she put a hand to her forehead and said, "Mawmaw, that is so messed up I don't know what to say."

All I could do was laugh. 

A minute later she said, "Well, they're closing."

She made it sound as if there is a connection. Y'all Madi is eight yrs old. 

I love the brains of children under ten. I'll take them to lunch and pick their brains, ask them questions and let them give me their view of the world. They never disappoint. I promise you it's always fascinating. It's the most fun I could ever ask for. Sarah has kept me in stitches for two decades. You can read about that on this blog. And she still does it at 19. Madi appears to be a lot like her sister in her opinions. 

We did eventually get back to Goodwill, where she bought two items for her bedroom. In the car again, I watched as Madi passed out in the back seat. Well, it was a busy afternoon for her and for me, but I had to drive.