I’m sitting in a Panera Bread at the mall (insert fear and trepidation here). I’ve never been a mall gal. In fact, I really don’t like to shop. I prefer to know what I’m after, go in, buy it, and get out, and I always work off a list, whether mental or written. But tonight, I really needed to get out and I needed a place to read and use wi-fi, so Panera it was. Only there’s a concert playing outside. And it’s really busy. So much for a quiet place to read, write and think.
On my way in, I thought I’d stop at one store – New York & Co. Outside of the department stores, this is the one shop I’ll hit in the mall on those rare occasions I’m here. For some reason, their style strikes me most out of the other stores that scream at me to look like this and smell like that and accessorize like this. I’m in the process of creating a new wardrobe for me, and t-shirts are cheap enough to just go ahead and buy. While I was trying a few on, I remembered that I had an old, old gift card in my wallet. What I didn’t realize was that it had $15 on it! I got 2 tees for $5 out of pocket. Totally worth it.
As I was checking out, the cashier asked me if I wanted a rewards card. Why not? It’s about the only place I’ll shop for new clothes, infrequent at that. As she was handing the form to me, I clarified that it was a rewards card, not a credit card. Her reply was one of the best compliments ever, and said in the friendliest way.
“Oh yes, you didn’t look like the credit card type, so I didn’t even ask about that.”
“Aha. You’re right. I’m more of a cash girl. So there’s a ‘look’ for the credit card type?”
“Most definitely, and you don’t look like that.”
I would have probed further to see what she had been trained to look for when pushing the credit card, but there were people in line behind me. Instead, I smirked as I handed her $5.42 in cash. I glanced down at myself and my new knit top (made by me) and my not-so-new olive green linen shorts (made by me) and my glittery $5 clearanced wedge sandals (that the fitting room attendant liked).
She was right. Definitely not the credit card type!
You are SO not a mall rat! :^)
I loved this! You and I beat with one heart about the mall thing. It pretty near gives me a panic attack to think of darkening its door…especially on a weekend!
I hope you’ll post pictures of your new spring wardrobe!
((HUG))
Lol! You are so right, TN 🙂
Thanks Rygal. Weekends, ooh and Christmas. The crowds make me shake! I’ll work on pics of the wardrobe. I need to find someone with a camera… oh wait….
So funny, I’ve never been a mall girl either. Dan tried to make me into one, but I’m too savings-oriented to wander aimlessly and allow marketing to try to sneak into my wallet.
That is so funny–“the cash-money look”. Seriously. When we hand people cash sometimes it’s like they don’t know how to count it or what to do with it. Thank goodness registers calculate the change for them, I think most would be completely lost in the quick math department.
That is a wonderful compliment! What a great blog! I wish I could sew….pooh. Can you move back to OH?
Jenna, it’s a good thing I had the change the other night because she didn’t even have enough coins to make change. Shows how often they see cash! We used to wander the mall for recreation in GR, but then I realized how much negative energy it caused in me – feeling unsatisfied with what I had in my home and how I looked. So we quit going even just to browse!
Thanks godzgal! Too bad you don’t live closer to my mom. She’s been giving lessons lately!