While getting ready for our "Big Trip To Portland" the other day I had to laugh. When we lived in WI the hour trip to Madison (pop. 223,000) was taken at least three times a month to visit family, shop, or bask in some culture. Lots to do. Lots of diversity. An hour was no big deal. Get on the highway and go. The world was our oyster. Whole Foods, a mall, Target, hey even a Michaels! While Madison was 'the big city' for us ( since we lived in a town of 2300) it was pretty accessible.
Despite the fact we live on the coast of Maine, now, it still feels pretty urban for us. The grocery stores we go to are much bigger than our small town back home, we have galleries, and art shops around every corner. We have our choice of restaurant's to eat at without driving more than 20 minutes. The beach is a mile down the road.
Still, there is the longing for 'the city'. The thing is, our biggest city here in Maine is Portland. Population 63,882. (Yeah, I had to double check that too.) It's Maine's largest city. It's an hour and half away. Coastal route. That means NO highway, my friends. Not that I'm complaining. The meandering coastal route is right up the alley of a girl who grew up looking out over flat, waving cornfields.
But it makes for a long trip. That last half hour is a killer. And while I see more diversity in Portland than I did 13 years ago while living in the area, our friend, Sarah, jokes that the food court at the mall is about as diverse as it gets. That is an exaggeration, to be sure, but it's not Madison.
But let me say this. I love going to Portland. It's 'the city'. It's adventure. It's way cool. We packed our bags,
the sun was shining warm through the trees,
and we were off.
One reason we decided to go to Portland on Friday was specifically to go to Whole Foods. While I have issues with the idea of Whole Foods and it's ilk (yeah, I'm talking about you, Wild Oats) and it sure isn't 'buying locally', you've got to love a store devoted to healthy living and eating. Ms. D balked at going initially, but when she saw the complete smorgasboard laid out before us in all it's American "you can have it all" glory she said "All this, and good for you too!"
This Whole Foods is WAY bigger than Madisons. I actually took pictures of all the peppers.
The manager of produce was watching me. He said they weren't at their morning best for produce blogs, but since mine was just a homeschool blog it would probably be okay.
(our traveling companion, Sarah, shows off her cantaloupe)
After we ate and spent, oh, about 80.00 on organic skin care (that is another story, dear reader) we went to Lenscrafters (another big city boon!) and tried on frames.
Ms. D was very patient throughout the long process, but she really really wanted her own glasses. As much as I love my child, I was, of course, not going to spend 198.00 on frames for her vanity (or for me as it ended up.)
So we went to every tweens dream: Claire's Boutique. Who can resist the bling presented there? Well, I always thought Ms. D could, stuffed animals were always her thing. Shopping was out, way out, of the question. (The story's I could tell you about forcing her to shop for clothes she needed, the holes in her wardrobe, her hatred for all things shopping related...) However, it seems there is some gene that has been lying dormant surfacing inside her. She wanted not just glasses, but jewelry. And scarves. And makeup.
As we were going to a girls make up party the next night I let her buy some makeup.Which she promptly had to apply. She seemed instinctively to know what to do and how to do it. (Despite my huge experience with makeup (I AM an 80's child) she refused my help. MY help!)
Who IS this new child??
Then she did her imitation of a 'mall rat'.
("NOOooooo Wa-Ay, that is, like, SO not true!! He was totally checkin' ME out!!")
On our way out, this Daddy's girl, who loves nothing more than a weekend away with her dad said "You know what I want? I want a weekend with just me and you. We can come to the mall, stay over at a hotel, have breakfast and well, come back to the mall....I know that sounds weird, but you know, I could get into this whole shopping thing."
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She wants to be with me! A mother/daughter moment! On the other hand, I had spawned a blatant consumer! Where did I go wrong!? But as soon as we got home, I was relieved that things were back to normal pretty quickly.
My little girl was back.
Ok, I have to know - where outside Madison did you live? I went to UW-Madison and brought home a cheesehead. :)
Your shopping trip looks like fun! 'Bought spit tea at the "Sarah shows off her cantaloupe" part!
Posted by: piscesgrrl | January 28, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Sarah will be happy she could amuse.
Okay, I lived in Darlington. It's very close to the Illi noise border. (Did you know Wisconsinites say "Ill Annoy us?") I worked in Dodgeville at Lands' End. (Did you catch my tribute to them? http://eclecticallyyours.blogspot.com/2008/01/touting-lands-end-horn.html)
I miss those silly cheeseheads. Go pull yours out of the closet and put it on for me. If only for a brief, shining, moment.
Posted by: Maria | January 28, 2008 at 12:17 PM