November 15, 2005

We are family…I got all my sisters with me… ~ Sister Sledge

Good evening, everyone! I am going to share an amusing story that happened the other night (more for my own memory than anything else). Ok...have you ever been afraid of the characters that wander around amusement theme parks? In other words...people in animal costumes? When I was a child, they used to truly freak me out. One would think I would be over that by now!

My sister dragged me to a special late-night Toys 'R' Us shopping event. The store opened at 7:00 pm on a Sunday night and remained open until 9:30. A portion of a sales went to the school system in my sister's town. First of all, even though I have a young son, I am not a big fan of the store. Nor was I thrilled to be leaving my house at 7:00 on a Sunday night to drive 35 minutes away to get there. But my sister and I never fail to have a blast together so off I went.

There was a party atmosphere in the store...they served refreshments and had raffles, etc. My sister figured she would get the majority of her Christmas shopping done so she dragged me from one end of the store to the other and back again. As I was standing in the aisle waiting for her to pick out something for my son, I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and found myself face to face with a 10-foot tall Geoffery giraffe. Okay...I am not proud to admit this, but I shrieked (and, well, I sort of yelled an expletive, too...remember, I am in Toys "R" Us!). I did NOT expect him to be there. And he was creeping towards me (yes...creeping). Another employee was walking with him and, when they saw my reaction, laughed their little heads off (well, Geoffery laughed his big head off). Embarrassed, I wandered off...escaping their amusement.

Shortly after that episode, I was browsing the baby Leap Pads when I just got this feeling that people were looking at me. I looked up and, there he was again...the freakish giraffe creeping towards me. Actually, he was trying to hide behind a display so he could scare me. But, whoever was wearing the Geoffery head was really tall because I am 5'10" and the shoulders on this guy were way above mine...which made it truly impossible for him to hide. So I started to tell Geoffery to bug off (in front of all the little kiddies, mind you) and now there is a crowd watching (and thoroughly enjoying) my horror and my sister is laughing so hard that she is making herself asthmatic. So...I could do one of two things...I could let this thing come and hug me (as it was attempting to do)...or I could run like a baby. Fight or flight...fight or flight...I was OUTTA there! And I am not ashamed . I tell you...there is NEVER a dull moment when I am out with my sister :)

Have a great night! I will probably post again after I see the surgeon on Thursday. Until then...be well!

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