Slice of Life Timehop ... Bloomingdale’s #SOL16 #TWTBlog

In celebration and preparation for the upcoming March Challenge, I plan to share my most loved slices over the years for the next few days. Here’s the first one from March 2016:

I love your purse. Did you get it at Bloomingdale’s?

I turn to see a group of women sitting together, playing cards. 

Thank you and no I didn’t get it at Bloomingdale’s.

Two weeks later.

Those boots – oh I love them. Can I see them close up?

I walk over to the group. Today they are arranging flowers.

Are they comfortable? Did you get them at Bloomingdale’s?

They are really comfortable. I didn’t get them at Bloomingdale’s.

This continued over the next few weeks. Same women always together. Same question over and over – Bloomingdale’s.  I was in the mall running errands and there it was – Bloomingdale’s. A scarf in the window caught my eye. I didn’t even look at the price tag. I had to have it.

That scarf is beautiful. Can I touch it?

I walk over.  Today I will not disappoint.

The pattern and color are perfect for you. Did you get it at Bloomingdale’s?

Yes I did.

From that moment on I became a part of this group – the ladies who go to Bloomingdale’s. I heard story after story about the times when they used to go to Bloomingdale’s together –shop, have lunch, and talk. Bloomingdale’s was more than a store for them it was a part of their life. Something they loved to do. When they thought about Bloomingdale’s it took them to a time in their lives they love to remember. They needed to go to Bloomingdale’s.

We do have trips in the van, but we don’t think we can make a trip to Bloomingdale’s.

Why? It is just up the street.   I am happy to go if you need more people.

That is great, but Clare it is not going to work.

I don’t understand – you have trips everywhere.

Clare, your mom can’t go to Bloomingdale’s. It is just too much.

My mom? I am not asking for my mom to go to Bloomingdale’s. She didn’t even like Bloomingdale’s –she was more of TJMaxx and Marshalls kind of shopper.

So you want to go to Bloomingdale’s with these ladies without your mom.

Yes.

Why?

How do I explain to him that I see myself in them? How to express the fear that someday I might have to live vicariously through another person’s boots? I know they need assistance to live daily life, but shouldn’t we also assist them in living the life they loved. They remember Bloomingdale’s. I want them to go to Bloomingdale’s. I try to explain.

Well, I guess someday, if I am living here, I want someone to take me running. Even if I can’t run anymore. I want to go to Heartbreak Hill, preferably at dawn, and be with other people who are running. I want to be where I loved to be. For them, running is Bloomingdale’s. I want them to go be where they loved to be.

 I’ll never forget their faces on our first trip to Bloomingdale’s. As I listened to them and watched them I felt like I met them for the first time. They had hopes and dreams. They had joy and pain. They had plans. They laughed and were silly. They were the ladies who go to Bloomingdale’s.

Just the other day I heard that the last member of the group passed away. I learned so much from these ladies. I miss them and their stories. I plan to make my way to Bloomingdale’s today – it just feels right.

                                            Clare