Retail Therapy

Just what is Retail Therapy?
The web definition is: Retail therapy is an unofficial term for purchases made by a person with the primary purpose being to improve the buyer's mood or disposition.

I never understood this concept for I am not a shopper. I do not like to grocery shop. Keep me away from the mall. School clothes...hand the kids the money and teach them to spend it well (what you buy will be what you wear to school this year) while you sit on the bench and watch. Well, ok I am bead shopper but that is a story for my other blog.

I am trying to figure out if the people living in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina are suffering from retail therapy or is it the fact if you don't buy it now someone else will? This questions weighs heavy on my mind after a trip to Wal-Mart this afternoon. I just wanted a printer cartridge!! I couldn't find a parking space. Where was my parking lot angel when I needed her? I ended up in the rear of the store by the Automotive department. As I slipped in the back door I thought this is going to be easy. NOT! As soon as I passed the tires I encountered the frantic shoppers. Those with shopping carts and those without shopping carts. Everyone looking for something and most times finding nothing. Yet, they were shopping. I made my way to back to electronics and found the aisle displaying the printer cartridges. I couldn't get near them. Stopping me were 3 shopping carts, an employee helping someone find a PDA and two other people looking for something. Through the crowded aisle I spotted the red and black box that held the item I so desired. Crazy thoughts ran through my head. Should I push my way through the crowd and grab the box before some else does? Should I shout EXCUSE ME I need to get something over there? Should I be like that crabby old man grumbling out loud about how ridiculous the situation is? No I waited and as I waited so did the red and black box. Was this trip to Wal-Mart necessary or part of retail therapy. It certianly did nothing for my disposition nor did it improve my mood.

Thank you Target for letting me do my christmas shopping online.