Loitering in the Mall

I have a very small appetite for the mall, but once in a while is good. Today we took baby Sadie for new sandals. Then Benny needed a summer, boot-camp-style haircut to keep his brains cool. Then I wanted new cheapo sandals, so we went to Payless and bought a pile of stuff on sale. Paused for a moment of respect for the passing of beloved April Cornell, now bankrupt and gone. Then we accidentally went into The Children's Place and bought each child a killer outfit. I see why that company's stock has done so well recently. Great, great merchandise. The choices are truly fabulous. After that we let the kids run their legs off at the mall play area while we drank lattes and ate biscotti. Then we took Benny's dog, Leroy, to the dog park so that he, too, could run his legs off. Finally Lydia had to deliver something to a guy who lives an an unspeakably seedy part of Norfolk. Made me feel on arrival at my own domicile that I pretty much live at Windsor Castle. A gratitude enhancing experience, you might say. Then at last back home. The mailman had been here in my absence and he left me the July issue of Gourmet Magazine, my favorite. All good. My payless sandals look great with the newly painted toenails.