Two days ago I placed an order with Victorian Trading Co., and today -- yes, TODAY -- the order arrived. I hadn't paid for express shipping, so imagine my profound and delirious surprise to come home from the bookstore to find an enormous box sitting on my wicker settee.
YES!!!
My gosh, I do so love me some Internet shopping ... and I ADORE the vintage-style tea dress ... couldn't wait to try it on ... nearly tripped over the cat and a gigantic 18-pack of paper towels trying to get upstairs in record time. Now I need to buy the beautiful cameo necklace I'd admired earlier today at a boutique on the Square, Crybaby Farm. (Wonder if they have a Web site?!)
Additionally, I am looking forward to the next rainy day just so I can put to use my Monet-inspired handy-dandy Victorian Trading Co. umbrella. It's G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!
Why does shopping make me so happy?
Earlier today, Elizabeth (my seventeen year old) and I went to Penney's. I headed to draperies and she headed to the Sephora counter. She's a cosmetics girl ... the apple sure doesn't fall far from the tree there! I too love makeup and all things girlie. (Currently I'm in search of an old-fashioned powder puff for talcum ... .)
Before leaving Penney's, I ended up buying a Waverly red/cream toile window dressing: panels and sheers and a valance -- and Elizabeth scored a "Girls Night In" gift set in a cute plastic tote.
My favorite purchase today, however, was picking up half a dozen "What a Hoot" note cards from Crybaby Farm. I intend to send one to Carol Cassella (author of OXYGEN, a novel I strongly recommend!) and then another to Elizabeth Berg, once I finish reading HOME SAFE. Berg's prose is simple and sweet, not too complicated, and although she's predictable, I appreciate her domestic details and heartfelt approach. I also bought Berg's OPEN HOUSE trade paper edition while at Border's today. Check out the first paragraph that hooked me into purchasing: "You know before you know, of course. You are bending over the dryer, pulling out the still-warm sheets, and the knowledge walks up your backbone. You stare at the man you love and you are staring at nothing: he is gone before he is gone."
I'm not sure if authors actually receive their "fan letters," but I'm an optimist. Besides, I really got a kick out of my letters and e-mails back when I wrote my newspaper column. There's a sense of validation, that what you're doing has merit and brings happiness to other people.
Corny but true.
1 comment:
I want to read that Berg novel.
Speaking of fan mail, I wrote an author (well, I emailed her from her website) and she emailed me back to thank me . . . and we have since had a thrilling and satisfying flurry of emails. Since I tend to put authors on pedestals, it kind of surprised me to learn how much the sincere and positive feedback of one person can mean.
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