It was a hectic day at the mall yesterday. I know, we should've known better than to brave the crowds in this last-Sunday-before-the-schoolyear-starts mad rush. But hey, we had a mission as well: buy two essential things for our schoolgirl - a schoolbag (preferably big and pink) and school shoes (black and sturdy).
I had initially planned to have these things in hand well before the June deadline. Good thing the little girl's classes don't start until the 14th. However due to my being sidelined for the better part of May (stomachaches, nausea, hospital stay, surgery, recovery), we ended up in this predicament.
I do not cease to be amazed at the number of books kids nowadays are expected to bring to school everyday. At grade 2, our little girl has a 7-hour schoolday! I had a laid-back 4-hour sched until grade 6, and just slightly more than that until I graduated from high school!
And so the quest for a spacious, wheeled bag was on. Oh, and by the way, it had to have Disney princesses on it, the more the better. Good thing we were able to see one at Robinson's in Festival Mall. It was big, like wheelie luggage lying down, with 6 wheels and lots of pockets, plus a snack bag and water bottle. And it was in pink, with 6 princesses -- Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle.
Whew, one down.
Then off we went to the shoes section -- just trying to navigate through the jampacked aisles was a feat in itself. Apart from the hordes of children trying out footwear, choosing the perfect style that had a perfect fit, some adults would also weave their way through the throng. Someone even had a baby stroller in tow, yes, a stroller. Imagine trying to push your way through the mass of people with that.
After negotiations on the style (nope, boots are not allowed in school) and material (leather or patent leather?), we settled down on a pair. Or so we thought. Then the little one said it was hard and it pinched her ankles.
The search began anew. Thankfully not far from the original pair was another pair that seemed to fit the bill, with the added bonus of having a thicker padding at the back of the ankle. Bingo!
We waded through the sea of people, and lined up at the counter to pay.
Of course the trip did not end there, as we made the semi-obligatory jaunt to the Powerbooks shop. Even with the advent of ebooks and with my trusty Kindle always on hand, I still did not emerge empty-handed, although I have to admit the number has dwindled from previous visits. The sales crew there recognize me and the little one now, haha!
As we drove back home, we were quite enchanted with the big double rainbow we saw along the STAR highway. You don't get to see that very often. And you don't often get to hear the amazement in a child's voice and the wonder in her eyes when she first sees that as well.
I am thankful that we found what we were looking for, that we were able to enjoy a day at the mall, that we were able to drive safely along the roads, that we saw the ephemeral beauty of a rainbow.
Magic can be found in unlikely places, in the most ordinary times.
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