Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Mom's Reflections On The Headline: Man Shops For 5 Hours 'Til He Drops 7 Floors

(boing-boingnet)
                                                              

On December 9th, a man in China became undone after shopping with his girlfriend for over five hours. When he pleaded to go home, she said that she still had to buy shoes. They began shouting back and forth until he decided to throw packages over the seventh floor railing. Their argument ended when he jumped after them, crashing through Christmas decorations along the way, as he plummeted to his death.

My mom is an avid shopper. She will work tirelessly to find you whatever you need whether it's a large item for your home, down to the perfect pocket square accessory. She worked in retail for several years, and even her bunions didn't slow her down.

Lately, it's been harder for her to get around, but if someone is willing to take her (me), nothing will stand in her way, even if she has to do it sitting down. "How can I see anything from this angle? Nothing is arranged properly for handicapped people. Bring it closer. Push me faster. Back up. Go check all of the fitting rooms. That top has to be here somewhere. What do the salespeople know?" Several hours later, you could still find us in the same department of the department store.

Recently, we found a new place to have lunch at my mom's favorite store. We picnic in the bedding department. I lay out our drinks and sandwiches on one of the display beds, while we take a short break. We had to relocate to this section, as all of the regular public seating areas have been filled up with holiday shoppers. I keep waiting for a sign that says; FOR DISPLAY USE ONLY.  NO PICNICS ALLOWED YOU TWO, but  people just smile when they see us. You know that smile for people who had a day pass from the asylum.

My mom still has a great eye, and a wonderful sense of the most flattering cuts for your body type. She continues to help me shop for the whole family. It's not too late to hire my mom for Christmas and New Year's. If there's a man in your life that you won't miss much, my mom is here to help. And she can do it in less than five hours.



40 comments:

  1. I totally want to go shopping with you two! I love the idea of the bed picnic, as long as I don't have to sleep in it later.

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  2. If she can do it all for me, she's hired.
    Thank God my wife would never do that to me. She hates shopping as much as I do.

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  3. I shopped with my daughter the other day. I completely understand the actions of the Chinese man.

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  4. My oh my, what an argument that was. She'll remember Christmas in a marred way forever.

    I definitely couldn't be with someone who wants to shop till they drop. Shopping is a nightmare at this time of year. Everyone is pushing and shoving and rubbing you up the wrong way. I'll let it die down a bit before I pick up some nice bargains.
    I'll give your mum my list and she can send it to me. Thanks mum.

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  5. Your Mom is a trooper. How is she at motivating and organizing? I could use some assistance there.

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  6. I am surprised there are any malls in China where it would possible to get close enough to the edge of place to throw packages over or to jump over either. Are you sure he wasn't Italian?

    Being with your mother sounds like a lot of fun.

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  7. Your mom is a trooper for sure. I used to be like that - loved the excitement around the holiday time and would shop until I drop. I suspect the guy in China had many other problems going on - not just shopping with his wife. It's almost like he was trying to prove a point - but what point?

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  8. LOL I totally cracked up about the day pass from the asylum LOL. I used to work in retail and always kind of wanted to just hang out in the furniture displays, the beds looked so comfy. I can totally picture you and your mom having your picnic.

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  9. Shop with your mom as long as you can, enjoy the picnics. I never thought of having a picnic in the bedding department.

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  10. Wow. Death from too much shopping. Unbelievable. It gives a whole new feeling to the holiday season. Shouldn't it be about joy??? Moving on...

    Your mom sounds wonderful. I am not sure I could stand shopping all day like that, but I admire her devotion (and yours). And that story about picnicking on the bed... hilarious. I've always wanted to lie down on all of them, but I never felt gutsy enough.

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  11. I think you two could start a whole new internet sensation -- picnicking in the bedding department. Everyone will be posting selfies of themselves eating sandwiches on ruffled quilts.

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  12. Love this! Good for you and your mom. That's doing lunch your way for sure.

    Chocolate hugs!

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  13. Rhonda - Others have tried, and they've never quite gotten over it! There are many advantages to the bed picnic, especially when it's a rainy or snowy day.

    Alex - Most people don't have the patience to shop that long. My mom would make a great personal shopper.

    Arleen - It's almost like a recreational sport for my mom, and I can barely keep up. Glad you survived!

    Rum Punch Drunk - My mom would love to help you with your list! Another idea is shopping on the Internet to avoid the crowds. It's not worth all of the stress. Thanks RPD!

    Delores - YOU are the organized one! My mom doesn't like to get rid of anything. Thanks Delores!

    Yvonne - It definitely happened in China. My mom is a lot of fun! Thanks Yvonne!

    Mary - I agree that the man must have had other issues. My mom is a shopping trooper all year round! Thanks Mary!

    Julie - This was more of a makeshift bedding display. Fortunately, it didn't collapse when I sat on the edge. It didn't look strange at all! Thanks Julie!

    Susan - Most normal people wouldn't! I do enjoy these moments, and appreciate our special time together. Thanks Susan!

    Robin - His death does give a whole new feeling to the holiday season. We are like the Thelma and Louise of thrill shoppers! Thanks Robin!

    Julie


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  14. LG - No selfies for us. We're already wanted in several stores! Fun idea though!

    Shelly - It all began when my mom didn't want to waste valuable shopping time waiting in restaurants, so I began packing lunches. Then we made it into a game finding the best places in stores to eat on the go. Pretty exciting huh?' Thanks Shelly!

    Julie

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  15. Oh Julie,
    Leave it to you to spin a tragic story that had me deeply saddened into a laughing matter. Thank you! I love your mom's offer and will certainly keep it in mind next time I need shoes and a slew of other items.

    xoRobyn

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    1. Robyn - It was a very tragic story. Sadly, there are so many horrible news stories that the extremely devastating, and freakish ones standout the most. My mom's superhuman shopping abilities also borderline freakish; hence the connection. Laughter is always better than the alternative. Thanks Robyn!

      Julie

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  16. My kids always want to lay on the display beds. Embarrasses the fire out of my husband!!

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    1. Leslie - As adorable as they are, the store manager wouldn't be as accepting of them as my mother. It would be like forcing out Betty White's younger sister.

      Julie

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  17. I almost did what the Chinese man did once while shopping for window treatments :)

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  18. Sounds like your mom and my mom would be great shopping companions. We need a registry for shop-a-holics to find each other.

    Can't believe you get away with picnicking on display beds. You two must be awfully cute or awfully fierce-looking to pull it off.

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  19. We all need someone like you Mum, Julie. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a happy and successful year ahead.

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  20. I take my daughter on a big pre-school shopping trip every year and kid her that I am passing the torch every good woman should carry: how to shop till you drop. Truth is, it wears me out and I go on "thing overload" way too quickly anymore. So for me it's about hanging out with my daughter and seeing how cute everything looks on her 18-year-old body.

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  21. Hi Julie .. the bed picnic sounds just perfect - I hate shopping, positively hate it ... I've even gone up to London to shop, got there .. and thought I really don't to be here, and I don't want to shop - I think I did a bit and caught an early train home!

    Your mother must have been amazing in her hey day - but obviously she's still challenging boundaries now ..

    Happy times - Hilary

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  22. Rick - The men in our family don't like shopping either even if it's for themselves. Next time you need window treatments, you should find someone who will come to your home. That way you'll be much safer, unless you live in a high rise.

    Kim - My mom has the ability to be incredibly fierce looking and cute at the same time. I like the idea of a shop-a-holics registry!

    Carole - I am very lucky to have my mom. Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you Carole!

    Julie - It's nice that you have that special time with your daughter, and I'm sure that she's a beautiful model. l also get worn out when shopping, so I try to break it up with little treats like a Starbucks run.

    Hilary - She still gets energized from shopping, but it's not for everyone. You're so busy exploring, and educating us Hilary that the shops will just have to do without you!

    Julie

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  23. Shopping rage! I certainly understand that poor man. How lovely that you have your mom to help you shopping while you help her doing something she truly enjoys. And that picnic sounds just wonderful.

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  24. I wanna have a picnic in the store!!! But there's just no way security wouldn't be called.

    No. Way.

    Hugs!

    Valerie

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  25. That poor guy in China. Gives a whole new meaning to "shop 'til you drop" (like a rock). Sorry, I don't mean to make light of it, but I really do empathize with that poor guy. Shopping isn't my favorite thing, either, and no way I'd want to do it for hours on end. Then again, if I had someone with me who'd do silly stuff like picnic in the furniture section, that might be enough to make it fun.

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  26. Inger - We do have fun doing silly things together! Thanks Inger!

    Valerie - Of course security would throw you out. It's amazing what my mom is able to get away with!

    Susan - It is very sad about that man in China, but it's hard not to make light of it. You would have fun shopping with me and my mom for about forty-five minutes. Then you would pretend to get an emergency phone call, and run as fast as you can! You just aren't tough enough or crazy enough to handle it. Sorry Susan!

    Julie

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  27. That story about that Chinese guy made me think of my name for the Mall: Guy Hell.

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  28. Hi Julie,

    This was bizarrely funny. I shouldn't find the part about the Chinese dude funny. So I shall drop that part of my comment. I go and shop late at night in England. On my own and no hassles. What a visual that would be if Yogi and Boo Boo Bear came to join you :)

    Gary :)

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  29. I should have seen this post earlier: I went shopping today too; 5 hours in all, with a leisurely lunch in between. I went up and down the shopping streets and bought lots of things, nearly all of them for myself. I came home laden with bags and parcels.

    Haven’t done that for years. It was glorious.

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  30. Al - That's how my boys feel. I usually can only drag them with me if it's something that they'll need alterations for. Better stay out of the mall, and just wear your clothes inside out instead of getting new ones, Al.

    Gary - It is nice to shop when the stores are less busy. Yogi and Boo-Boo are welcome to join us! Though Yogi is "smarter than the average bear," Penny would give him a run for his money!

    Friko - Glad that you had such a wonderful day! The best part is that you bought presents that you really like! It's hard to resist all of the great deals during the holiday season. Sounds like you just might be able to keep up with my mom! Thanks Friko!

    Julie

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  31. I use to be able to spend a whole day shopping, hitting 6 to 7 stores in the day. Not anymore. That's okay with me. Your mom sounds so sweet. I bet a day of shopping with you two would be a fun experience, especially the picnic part. : )

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    1. Susanne - I also prefer shorter shopping trips now. It is always an eventful experience with my mom, and she likes providing fodder for my stories! Thanks Susanne!

      Julie

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  32. My wife absolutely loves shopping. Me? I hate it. So when she wants to go shopping she goes with one of her shop-happy friends and leaves me at home to watch TV or play video games or whatever other guy-related stuff I want to do, and I have like 6 hours to do it. Everybody wins.

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    1. A Beer For The Shower - Sounds like you've found the perfect solution. There is nothing worse than dragging a non-believer through the mall with you.

      Julie

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  33. My mom was a super-charged shopper, too. It drove me mad. Of course, now that I don't have her, I miss those mall excursions that used make me want to dive off that 7th floor balcony.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  34. Have a terrific holiday season!!

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  35. Lee - I'm sorry that you lost your mom. I know how lucky I am. Thanks Lee, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family,

    Thank you JJ, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Julie

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