Cynthia And I Shop In A Different Way (Working Title: I Love To Shop)

Increasingly, I realize that there is some sort of role reversal between Cynthia and I when it comes to shopping. And I assure you, there is nothing to do with that 7 months break I had and how I became domesticated.

Cynthia shops with objectives in mind. She may not know where to buy that something but she has a clear vision on what to get and how many items she needs. For instance, she has a clear picture on how many pairs of business shoes and casual shoes she has and which ones are in the pipeline of being decommissioned. I wish I could do the same for my ties. I mean, having an extra tie really wouldn’t harm, would it? Today, inside a mall, I was staring at one particular tie on the rack. I turned to Cynthia and asked: haven’t I already bought a tie of a similar style just two days ago? We both stared into space and could not recall. As of now, those ties I bought two days ago are still inside the shopping bags ready to be unwrapped.

The fact remains unchanged … I hate to shop when I need something. It is stressful. Having an objective in mind puts a time line to what could have been a wonderfully relaxing shopping experience and turns it into a chore. And that is no fun. I treat shopping as part of an exploration journey. It doesn’t have to be a route from A to B. It could be something like from A to A1 and then A2 and then zigzag between A3 and A4 … and finally you reach A999 without actually arriving at B at all. And you can save B for another day.

To illustrated, take the other day as an example. Cynthia and I needed to buy a birthday present for Lora. I walked into Orchard with an open mind (really … why need to think when the “answers” are … everywhere?). Cynthia walked into Orchard with plan A to Z all ready. Okay, I exaggerate. It was more like plan A to C. In between these plans, I stopped Cynthia at the hat section and asked her to try out some hats. Deep inside, I think she liked the diversion but she kept saying: focus, focus! And I stopped at the Men’s section and bought some ties. Finally, we got something for Lora and I really wanted to check out another department just upstairs for some casual clothes … but the time was up! Gasp! We were scheduled to meet another friend of ours for dinner …

But … but …

Sure people can understand if someone got stuck in shopping, right? I certainly can. That’s why mankind has invented wireless phone so that while waiting for your friend to arrive, people can roam around and check out things around them? That is win-win!

The other day, I was shopping with my guy friend. How wonderful it could have been! Except it didn’t turn out the way I expected it to be. Or rather, it turned out the way I didn’t wish it to be. We arrived at one section and I was marvelled at the range of clothes. I took up garment A, visualize the result, analyze the color (if I have this and that to match and so on), check out the available sizes, examine the style (how people may perceive when I wear that), and so on … and I moved onto garment B. By the time I have made the decision on which ones to take into the fitting room, my friend emerged from the fitting room and was heading to the cashier. I was like … dude … so fast?! He was like … ya, I found what I need. I was like … you don’t need my opinion? He was like …

I think the great thing about shopping with someone is that we can take our time to try things on and hear out what we have to say. That is the fun of it all.

How about things that we can’t try but can only visualize? It can be fun too! Or in my case, it could have been fun too! Today was a 20% storewise discount from selected malls. Time to shop for some pyjamas! I started with one brand then moved onto the next. Cynthia casually picked something from the shelf … the color was good, the price was a bit to the high side but … yuck! I said to her: look, there is a printing of a cockroach! Okay, she didn’t see that. Truth been told, Cynthia seemed to feel uneasy in the men’s pyjamas department (I must have been taking that long eh?!). That, I don’t quite understand. If I was inside the lingerie section, I would feel like heaven. That section is definitely out of bound for men unless we are with our partners. And the chance to pick what I like to see behind closed doors? Priceless.

On our way out we passed by the Braun Buffel section. I stopped and couldn’t take my eyes off some of the briefcases and bags on the shelves. “I think …,” before I could finish the sentence Cynthia asked me point-blank, “What do you want to put inside?”

I pondered … and surrendered, “iPod?”

Okay, I don’t even have an iPod yet. But that is besides the point …

Anyway, by now, you may understand why I enjoy reading Sophie Kinsella. Still waiting for her latest book to go paperback though … arrgghh!